Thank you all for the reviews and kudos/favs/follows! You guise are way tastier than red bull!
Work is getting a bit hectic, I'm called away from the desk a lot, which means I can't 'pretend' to be vigorously working and typing away as much ;) So I'm really sorry that either I might be taking longer to update, or updating with shorter chapters.
The tone is gloomier than the previous chapters, a lot of plot setting, but don't worry, we haven't seen the last of fun loving wee!Charles!
Sharon Xavier in this story will be very un(comic)canon-like. My interpretation of her more or less grew from the one mention of her in the film, though it's a nastier version of an unoriginal interpretation. Also, I'm having Charles' telepathy manifest earlier in his life, rather than around age 10 in the comics. Forgive me for my handwaving attempts at connecting canon ;)
BTW: This is unbeta-ed, and I'm extremely sorry for all the many mistakes still left in here after my poor editing. Feel free to point them out to me, and I'll get it corrected asap!
Charles sat stock still in the middle of the large ornate woven couch, not yet heavy enough to sink the plush cushions, yet it looked as if the couch was seconds away from swallowing the little boy whole.
The boy looked like a spooked animal, body frozen and rigid, eyes far too alert, on the look out for an escape route to a safe place to hide. Not a word had escaped his mouth since his transformation. When Erik entered the chamber to retrieve the alarmed child, Charles yelped and whimpered through tightly sealed lips, whole body trembling, too frightened to even cry. Erik was hesitant to cause the child further distress, but there was no way he was letting Charles sit a minute longer in that claustrophobic chamber. The boy shook harder as the tall lithe man wrapped his arms lightly around him, becoming so distressed, he wet the sheet, some of it leaking onto Erik.
Erik was now tormented by the memory of the overwhelmingly petrified child when he tried to give Charles a quick bath and have him changed into something clean and dry. Every moved Erik made seemed to lead Charles to believe he was going to get a severe beating at any moment. The sickened man knew this look well, having been surrounded by them in the camps.
"Charles, you remember me don't you? It's Raven."
His deep, frightened frown remained in place, small hands clutched tightly the pale green comforter he was now wrapped within, too scared and timid to look directly back into those extraordinarily bright and yellow orbs.
"I'm your-"
A well manicured hand with milky pearlescent nails stopped Raven before she said something to confuse the young boy's mind.
"We are your new caretakers and tutors, Young Master Xavier."
At that, Charles looked up with a tilted head and carefully considered the woman dressed completely in pristine white clothing, what little of it there is.
Emma had probably probed into Charles memories, and concluded this was the easiest way to explain why so many strangers were in his house.
His memories are of his three year old self. It's best to become plausible extensions of his memories, rather than forcing him to remember something that does not exist for him. The mind is as delicate as it is strong. A broken telepathic mind will do us no good.
The icy presence of Emma's telepathy in the consciousness felt like a growing vine of ice, creeping and cracking at the blood vessels.
"Your parents asked that we look after you while they are away. I am Miss Emma Frost, and I will be in charge of helping you develop your special skills."
"Spe'al skill?" The intrigued boy unclenched a hand and pointed his little index finger at his head.
"That's right, sugar. Very special skills. Skills to be proud of."
A few of the adults quirked their brows at Emma's uncharacteristically caring tone, and her emphasis on how special he is. It was odd to see Charles as the student. Odd to consider that he wouldn't be anything but proud of his mutation. Alex glanced quickly at Hank and Sean, and confirmed all three of them were on edge about the sudden familiarity and kindness in Emma's demeanor.
"B-but mama says... Says not to listen to the voices.. T-that I make her look foo'ish in front of her frien's.. They think is scary... T-that.. I a monster."
Raven gasped and fell backwards a step. She knew, from what little she had seen of Charles' mother, that the woman was distant and cold to her son, but she had always attributed it to the alcohol. She never thought her brother had suffered a childhood with even a hint of the same bigotry as those with physical manifestations. She had always thought Charles would never understand her pain or anger.
Why had Charles not shared this part of his life with her?
The confused boy cowered deeper into the cushions, tugging the comforter tighter as Erik approached and knelt down before him.
"No Charles. There is no need to fear your gift. All of us here are special like you. We do not hide any longer. We are better than-"
Alex coughed loudly, glaring daggers at Erik, while he sat down next to the still timid and perturbed boy, hunching down low to meet Charles' worried and glazed eyes.
"Hey there, little buddy. I'm Alex, and this is my little brother Scott, he's thirteen. That's Ororo there with the silky white hair, she's going to be eleven soon, and this little fiery girl here is Jean, who is nine years old. They're going to be students in this household with you. Myself along with Sean and Hank will be taking good care of you, OK? Sean's gonna take you all to get some lunch, while Hank and I talk with these other adults."
Scott came forward, big gentle smile on his face while he held out his hand for the child to take.
"Come on, Charles! Sean promised us pancakes for lunch, and we're gonna help make'em!"
Almost instantly, color and life returned to Charles' face, his large baby blues catch the light when he turns his small round head, topped with a thick messy mop of chocolate curls, to face Scott and offers him a shy, yet uncontainable smile.
"Pancakes?" The child wiggles within the comforter, and chuckles breathlessly. "Can't have pancakes for 'unch."
The brunet tween looked well shocked, even behind those thick ruby red glasses. The Charles he had come to know, whether adult or infant, had always been indulgent with his appetite.
"You don't want pancakes? I'm sure Sean can make you something else-"
"Uh uh! I-I like some pancakes please! B-but mama won't be happy bout it.."
Sean stepped up and gently ruffled the bashful boy's soft chocolate curls.
"Let us worry about your mom for you. Come on, let's try to come up with the yummiest pancake!"
Charles tried but failed to contain his glee, and in his excitement, he half fell off the couch when his legs got tangled within the comforter. Thankfully, Sean had caught him, and carried the boy, astounded and unused to Sean's physical proximity, out of the room swiftly while the other children raced each other to the kitchen.
"Azazel, would you please take Raven to buy Charles some new clothes. Thank you."
Alex requested soon as Sean led the children out of the room, his tone and expression left no room for discussion. Angel, sensing trouble was ahead, opted to join the duo on their shopping excursion. Janos, quite often the designated cook of the house, slipped away quietly to help Sean with preparing lunch.
"Perhaps you'd like to leave the room too, Frost."
Alex still does not take his hard cold gaze off Erik, who returned it with his own defiant and challenging glare.
"Oh no, sugar. I'm quite happy right here."
Before Alex could get another word out, Erik, turns to Hank, face full of dread and worry.
"What's was that, Hank? Have we caused more harm to him?"
"I'm sure I don't need to ask Emma to tell you just how complex the brain is. We had been lucky that Charles retained fragments of his full memories before. With any luck, the next treatment will bring back his full memories."
"Are you completely sure it's safe for him to continue? What if it wipes his mind clean?"
"And wouldn't that be just perfect for you."
Erik snapped his head back towards the seething blonde man.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You just couldn't fucking wait to brainwash him could you. Is that why you've all stayed? To see if you can't influence Charles to bend to your will, to kill for you?"
The metal scattered around the densely decorated room vibrated in discontent. Erik clenched his fists tight and willed his powers down.
"I stayed because I want to protect our own. And because... I'm responsible for this mess."
Hank looked pointedly at Erik, but remained silent.
"Damn right you are! If it weren't for you, Charles would be walking about, teaching others like us how to control and develop our abilities. Perhaps even able to provide us with a semblance of a normal life. The path you want force us on will turn all of us into soldiers and pawns. I don't wish that kind of life for Scott, for Ororo or Jean."
"There will not be a choice for any of us. The world at large now know about us. They fear what they do not understand. They will eliminate us."
Alex shook his head before replying, "You don't know that. There are a good number of decent people out there, who would love their children, their siblings, their family no matter what."
"If you believe that, then you are as naive as Charles."
"You want the honest truth? I hated the world. I used to wish every single human out there were dead, except for Scott. He was only four when they took him away from me. He hadn't manifested yet. I had no idea he was just like us... And Charles found him for me... Through the system, calling God knows how many people, filling out piles of paper work, paying an amount of money I don't think I'd ever see in my life. He did all of this without assuming Scott was a mutant. All he knew was that I had a brother out there I was worried sick about. It was only until after Scott arrived that Charles realized he had already located him with Cerebro before. If you had your way, what would you have me do if Scott wasn't a mutant?"
Erik swallowed hard, and didn't answer. But all four in the room knew what his answer would be.
"That is why I believe in Charles. And that is why I will fry you alive, if you attempt to manipulate Charles ever again."
Alex walked out of the room, Hank a few steps behind. When the blue-furred man reached the door way, he glanced back, his features sad yet resolute.
"...Charles trusted me with helping him with his paralysis. I believe he would continue to trust me to see this through. I'm not one to betray his trust."
Erik watched the two young men leave the room speechlessly, with a new level of respect for them. They were not the same men he had parted with that day on the beach. They were stronger and more capable. Men he would be honored to call brothers.
Emma, who had been watching the whole exchange with silent bemusement, walked up to Erik and gave him a few small pats on the shoulder.
"You're not the only one who has underestimated those three young men. They will be a force to be reckoned with."
"We all having 'unch together... here?"
Charles asked in a heartbreakingly eager and hopeful voice. Sean and Janos had prepared a fully scrumptious meal with the help of the children. The large red oak dining table was lined full of colorful plates of fruit, eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes and salad.
"Of course, Charles... D-did you want us to eat elsewhere?"
"No! ! !... Is just... i-if papa not home.. mama don't like to eat... I-I don't like to eat by myself on the big table... W-where papa? Papa be home soon?"
"Uhh.. No, your parents have gone away. They won't be back... for a while.."
Raven was reluctant to lie, but no good would come out of telling the child a truth that 'hasn't happened yet'. Azazel had only minutes before returned with Angel and Raven from the shops. Angel immediately put Charles' new batch of clothing into the washer, and temporarily wrapped Charles into a smaller sheet so that he could move about with more ease, making goo goo eyes at him because he look adorably cute as a mini Ancient Grecian.
"Papa is impor'ant scien'tis! I-I wanna be like papa when I'm big! Will I learning scien'tis things?"
It was the first time since the this morning's transformation that Charles looked so happy and... well, himself.
"Sure buddy! Hank here is quite the amazing scientist, I'm sure he'd love to show you the lab sometime."
Sean pointed his finger towards the humble genius a few seats across. When intrigued azure eyes landed on the blue fuzziness, a large smile broke out on Charles' tilted head.
"Mr. Hank, are you a teddy?"
Hank flinched at the sudden onslaught of attention on him from around the table.
"Biologically, I'm not a bear at all, but I can understand why you might see the-"
"Hank's so much better than a teddy, he can fly a plane!"
Scott's input had most of the table laughing, setting an easy, cheerful tone for the rest of the meal. When Erik reached for the plate of pancakes topped with a mountain of caramelized apple drizzled with squidges of maple syrup, Charles squirmed in his chair and pointed at the plate with a tiny finger, torn between excitement and shyness.
"I-I helped make that one."
The boy seemed still too shy to look at anyone directly in the eye, his eager gaze darting about the table, small shoulders hunched high, as if always preparing to duck away from something.
"Did you now? Would you like to help cut me a piece?"
The request threw Charles into a sort of stupor. The boy slowly lifted his gaze at the seriously looking man sitting at the end of the table, where his mother would normally sit. His expression looked as if Erik had just asked if Charles wanted to go outside to play.
"Yes, please!"
Charles slid down from his chair, and ran up to Erik, who prompted the giddy boy up on his knee without second thought, and ruffled his hair. This shocked the boy, his whole body tensing up somewhat, bitty mouth agape in wonder at how easily his new caretakers dished out kindness and affection. Before the child could grab the fork, Erik uses his power to levitate the cutlery up into the air, stunning Charles into further astonishment.
"...Who doing that? It-it's flying! ! Mr. Erik, you doing that! ?"
The awestruck child stretched his neck to look up at the man twiddling his fingers to make the the metal dance in front of them. When Charles returned his attention back on the table, Erik had proceeded to fly a good forkful of pancake and caramelized apples right up to Charles' mouth, delighting the toddler to no end.
"Yummy! Mr. Erik, have some!"
Charles pokes at the levitating fork, as if to tell it to fill itself up with another serving, and continues to prod at it until it arrived before Erik's awaiting mouth with a large serving.
"Do you like it, Mr. Erik?"
"It's delicious, maus! Let me guess, apple is your favorite fruit?"
"How you know? Wait! I not a mouse! Why you calling me mouse?"
Charles had to cover his mouth to hold in his laugh, making him release a series of snorts instead.
"It's your nickname. You don't like it?"
"I never had a x before... I like it! Thank you!"
Erik tried his best to return an equally fond smile, and project affectionate thoughts, but it broke his heart to see Charles like this, so vulnerable and starved for companionship. He was certain everyone around the table felt the same, and were wondering how Charles managed to grow into the confident and magnetic man he is.
Charles' new clothing had been washed and put through the dryer by the time they had finished their lunch and washed up. Raven had selected a few pairs of pants that had bum flaps, just because she thought Charles would look cute in them, but explained that it would make it easier for Charles when he goes potty.
After this morning's mishap, Erik debated whether to keep Charles in diapers still, but when he questioned the toddler himself, Charles covered his mouth again and snorted as if Erik had just said the dumbest thing.
"I know how to potty!"
Charles was so eager to show Erik that he didn't need diapers and that he could potty by himself just fine, he rushed out of the toilet after a thorough wipe and flushing, not realizing his bum flap had come undone.
"Mr. Erik, come look! I potty by myself! And wiped by myself! And flush by myself too!"
The boy led the man energetically through the mansion, mooning his little bare bottom at everyone he passed. Whenever Erik tried to reach down to button up the flap, Charles would somehow mistake Erik as playing tag, and the boy would run ahead a few paces, squealing with glee. After a few failed attempts, Erik gives up on the bum flap, and proceeds to play a bit of tag with him, just to see a carefree and delighted Charles some more.
A man of his word, Hank placed a chewy cookie filled with three types of chocolate chunks on a plate in front of Charles after he gave the curious boy a detailed tour of the lab the adult Charles had declared was his to do as he wished.
"Here you go, our bravest little boy. You deserve it after what you've been through today."
Charles sat in the chair stunned. His eyes nearly popping out, and drool was beginning to form at the sides of his little moist mouth. But he didn't immediately grab the cookie and stuff it into his mouth like Hank expected him to. Instead, the little boy almost looked lost and apprehensive as to why he was being given this extraordinary treat.
"Thank you, Mr. Hank... But I didn't do anything spe'ial today."
Those soulful blue eyes flick helplessly between the cookie and the wooly man. Hank crouched down and gave Charles' chubby cheeks a little squeeze, causing the child to giggle while leaning into the touch.
"You were very brave today. You woke up to a house full of strangers when your parents' weren't here to protect you."
"But your not a stranger no more. W-will you all be staying for long? No one ever stay for long.."
"Yes Charles, we would like to stay for however long you'll let us."
"Really? I-I like that very much.. Thank you!"
Charles carefully grabs the cookie with both hands, as if it were the most precious thing in the world and presents it to Hank on his little palms.
"Would Mr. Hank like half? Papa says is good to share!"
"You're papa is a good man."
"Yeah! Papa is the bestest papa in the world! He not at home much... I miss him. Mama does too.. I think."
The children were gathered in the large study with a few of the adults. Erik was gathered at the elegant oak desk with Sean and Hank, looking over designs and plans, and discussing quietly the possibilities of building a more advanced version of Cerebro right here at the mansion. The list of coordinates Charles had produced with the Cerebro prototype has more or less been exhausted, with many of the coordinates now obsolete.
On the worn leather couch sat the three older children, dutifully listening and taking notes from Emma's lecture on mathematics, veering towards business, accounting and what sounds eerily like tax evasion. There had been concern about how they should teach the three children, with Jean being a few years younger, but she has proved herself to be incredibly intelligent, catching on to complex scientific and mathematical concepts with relative ease. Scott and Ororo, although eager to learn, find abstract equations harder to grasp. Scott excels in spacial disciplines like geometry, often earning a bit of extra pocket money when he plays pool against Azazel or Janos. Ororo on the other hand, prefers the more spiritual and environmental subjects, her mutation allowing her a unique connect with nature.
Next to them, sitting on the lavish Persian rug is Raven and Charles, with scrap paper scattered all around them and a small bucket of crayons tipped out. Charles was using both hands to draw colorful pictures of anything that comes to mind, and Raven kept him amused and amazed by constantly transforming into new appearances.
Charles was deep in concentration on his portrait of Raven when the doorbell rang, making him yelp in fright, and immediately crawling onto Raven's lap.
"Charles? What's the matter? It's only the doorbell."
Raven caresses and soothes her brother, but the sheer terror in his eyes had her blue scales raised.
"I-is it Mr. M-Marko? Please don't let it be Mr. Marko..."