I'm indescribably guilty about the slow updates as of late, life and work has conspired against my fanficcing ways. I hope people are still interested in this story! Thank you as always for the wonderful reviews and continued support with the kudos/favs/alerts, they really do mean so much to me! I had a few other parts plotted for this chapter, but felt it was getting too long, so the next chapter will provide development of a few more sub-plots.
Merry Christmas and spectacular new year ya'll! As a small seasonal gift (and slow update apology gift) here's a super long update, AND I'll be updating in a day or so a small interlude snapshot!
So the rating really has gone up, forgot to do so last time. Also, all this is un-beta'ed, pretty obvious, I know, and I'm extremely sorry for all the mistakes that my crappy editing has still not combed out.
Warnings: Under-aged hard ons for persons not under-aged.
"How much did you hear?"
Charles refused to look Erik in the eye, and instead he groveled at the ground, hands fidgeting at the hem of his woolen top.
"Nothing."
"You're a horrible liar, maus."
"What does it matter what I heard anyway!?"
The boy's head snapped up, and instead of teary blue eyes Erik had braced for on hearing Charles' broken voice, it was a face of rage and bitterness that looked up, but still refusing direct eye contact. Erik was frozen in place with shock, with which Charles took full advantage and pushed Erik out of the way so that he could run out of the bunker.
"Charles! Wai-"
Erik was a few steps into following after Charles when the door behind him swung casually open, and Cain Marko stepping out with an unreadable expression, his thick masculine arms crossed tightly at his chest, but he body leaning lazily at the door frame.
"That his son?"
"He's not who-"
"Boy's a splitting image of that fucker, so don't waste your breath."
"You will leave the children out of this."
"And why would I do that. What's he to you anyway? You're too dedicated to him to be the help. One of his pathetic pet causes then?"
"We worked alongside each other."
Erik's face was dark and his body was stiff. The statement in past tense certainly piqued Cain's interest and he tilted his head and smirked.
"And let me guess... It didn't turn out very well. For you."
"I wouldn't say that."
It didn't turn out well for either of us.
"There's never going to be any working with him, there's only ever going to be working for him. His ego's too big. He's always going to be right, and you'll always be wrong. That's how things work in his world."
Erik clenched his jaw together tight so that a gasp could not escape his mouth. That statement had rung so many truths, he had to force the iron in his blood to slowdown before his body swayed.
This was the Charles he knew as an adult. The Charles he paralyzed on the beach. The Charles who would eventually return and become more of a foe than ally. He doesn't know how to reconcile this Charles with the Charles they have all gotten to know and watch grow up in the last few months...
His eyes slowly slid shut at the guilt that had already begun to burn at his insides.
"What if I told you I could change that."
Cain stared back at Erik with more curiosity than suspicion, and the hint of triumph could not be missed. He knew he had hit a sore spot with the leaner man.
"Go on."
Charles let his legs take him as fast as they could away from that place. Away from the man that had severely wounded his friends. The man who accused him of something so out of this world. So out of his comprehension. However, who he desperately needed to run away from was Erik. Charles could not believe Erik would take that man's word over his, but he obviously had. Why else would he be wearing that helmet constantly now? Why else would he have been spending so much time down in the bunker. The only conclusion the young teen could reach was that Erik was on that man's side.
That he had lost Erik.
And with that thought, Charles' legs gave way, and he crumbled to the ground, knees making loud thuds when they hit the wooden floor boards. He doesn't feel the pain though, only wet streaks of cooling tears dripping down his cheeks, off his chin.
~x~
When Charles' mind finally cleared through it's dizzy haze, the boy found himself crouched within himself in a dark corner of the roof attic, his face itchy from the dried tears. It must be late afternoon now, the sky was loosing it's white cloudy gray to darker ashy gray. The thick blanket of low clouds have been threatening rain since the day before, but Ororo took this as an opportunity to hone in on her powers. Something she has been doing vigilantly since the man had attacked them. He lost himself in thought again, staring out the row of dust covered windows, and did not notice someone coming up.
"Charles? Are you in here?"
Raven appeared head first as he stepped up into the attic. She had spent a few days undercover at the Worthingtons, but her alias had been given mandatory vacation time, so she was back at the mansion for a long weekend.
The dull weather made the attic felt doubly dark and damp. The darkness brought out Raven's golden eyes, and they seemed to gleam brighter when she found him in his corner.
"What's wrong? You ran passed us then disappeared upstairs for hours..."
Under the minimum light, Raven saw the expression she never wanted to see on Charles again. The same blank expression he had went he had just lost his father.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"...why is the man still here?"
Raven had been against the idea of Cain being allowed to stay in the mansion, not matter how hidden away and imprisoned Erik had guaranteed. But she knew the consequences if Sinister got wind of Cain, and managed to get his hands on him.
"For everyone's safety."
The boy looked up confounded. Raven knew there was no use lying to him.
"He knows about us, about our weaknesses. If the wrong people met him-"
"Sinister?"
The scales on Raven's skin rose automatically at the thought of having her mind trespassed so easily, completely without her knowing. Before all this, before Cuba, Charles had an agreement with her. He would not trespass into her mind without her consent or her knowing, and she would not shift carelessly in public. Then, when Charles became a toddler, Raven supposed he was still figuring out his telepathic abilities, so she'd let any uninvited entry slide, but she'd always feel his unique mental signature, an inexplicable smoothness. However, just now, she didn't feel a thing. It made her automatically clamp up all her mental walls, like how Emma taught her.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean to read your mind. It's been very taxing to suppress it lately. Everyone's surface thoughts are like broadcasts-"
"Puberty?"
Raven remarked, more to herself, but it had Charles blushing and ducking his head downwards.
"I-I guess. I didn't think it would affect my telepathy, but I guess it makes sense. It seems puberty was the trigger for a few of the other's manifestations."
"I can tell you it's going to be a frustrating few months until you finally get a handle on it. I remember when I hit puberty and I became this sort of walking mirror. Couldn't leave the house until you- I mean until I learned how to control it on top of getting pimples."
Charles' face scrunched into a mix of disgust and amusement.
"Eww! Pimples! I don't want them!"
"Then you'll have to lay off the fries and the sweets."
"But I read that it's got nothing to do with food. It's mostly genetics and keeping clean and hydrated."
"You've been studying up on this?"
Raven fought hard to suppress laughing at the image of a teenaged Charles studiously flipping through piles of books in dedicated concentration to learn all about puberty, and everything else in the world. It took her right back to when it was just the two of them, with Raven purposefully misplacing books and taking out bookmarks in an attempt to grab Charles' attention.
"I-I get bored at school! It's quieter in the library than listening to mind's screaming every three seconds about... you know..."
Charles blushes a deep red, and his hands are flailing about, expressing something he's too shy to say to her.
"Sex!? Oh that's just nasty! Wow! That's just... rough. O-other than suffering from being bombarded with d-dirty thoughts, how are you enjoying school."
It was easy to forget that they were a part of Charles memories at the moment, that he had a life outside of them that he was going through at the same time. When Raven had first met Charles, he was already self studying with books given to first year university students, and he'd stopped physically attending school so that he could take care of her.
"It's taxing. Everyone thinks I'm a rich, stuck up genius who's been given everything on a golden platter. Not that it isn't true, but I like it best at home with all of you... w-when you're all here. I don't like it when Cain's here... o-or when Mother shuts herself into her boudoir."
Back when they had first brought the others back to the mansion, Raven truly had been only joking about softening Charles' hardship. She's still having sleepless nights thinking over how she had missed what was happening to Charles all those years ago. Charles must have picked up her turmoil and cuddled close beside her, clearing fighting the urge to peek into her mind right now. Raven reacted automatically by patting his soft brown hair and letting his head rest on her lap.
"I'm starting to think Mother really doesn't know any of your existence in her drunken daze. Which might not be a bad thing, really... I do wish Cain would treat me as if I don't exist..."
"And Kur- Your stepfather? He's still not laid a hand on you, right?"
Raven cannot help remembering the horrible sight of witnessing the beatings Cain received from his father, and had Cain reemerged into her life in a different circumstance, she would have felt a lot more compassion for the man.
"No, Kurt treats me quite well, if only a bit like his prized specimen. He's thinking of having Cain attend his last years of high school here...and then a nearby university. I... I'm accumulating extra credit so that I can attend university as soon as possible... Are you all willing to leave with me too?"
All those years ago, Raven didn't think she had a choice in following Charles to Oxford, that Charles was all she had in the world. Now she knows that he needed her just as much as she needed him.
"I can't say for the others, but I'll be with you."
Perhaps it was selfish and cowardly of her to offer these comforting statements to Charles when she knew ultimately she would leave him, probably under one of the worst circumstances, but Raven knew she wasn't strong enough to be the one to tell Charles the truth, to be the one to shatter his perception that they can all live harmoniously together here.
~x~
Erik found Charles in the hidden attic, his head leaning on Raven's lap while they both sat on the floor.
"May I come in?"
His hands tightened into a painful grip when Charles flinched at hearing Erik's voice. The flinch had not escaped Raven's notice either, and the intricately patterned scales on her forehead moved in confusion. Those yellow orbs peered into Erik's eyes, and he knew Raven will be grilling him about this later, but she knew enough not to make a scene right now in front of the apprehensive teen.
"Dinner time already?"
Erik sent her what he hoped was his most grateful look, and climbed up into the attic completely, but remained crouched down on one knee.
"Yes... But I'd like to talk to Charles first. Alone, if that's okay."
Charles kept his face downward cast, and followed closely behind Raven like a kicked puppy.
"I-I'm hungry... I'd like to go have dinner now... please."
The tight, sour pang Erik felt pouring from his chest from Charles' reluctance to look at him, nor to talk to him made it a fight for Erik to breathe. He could barely watch as Raven let Charles exit the attic first. Only when Raven brushed passed him and gave the top of his head a quirked eye look did Erik realize his mistake of leaving his helmet on. He hadn't meant anything by it, he's just become used to the weight of the helmet again, and the added level of comfort the metal gives to him. But his carelessness yet again formed a fissure in his bond with Charles.
Erik slid off the helmet and attempted to send apologetic and m soothing thoughts to Charles, but the teen either plainly ignored them, or ha shut his telepathy off somehow. He had little choice but to follow Charles and Raven to the dining room where Angel was batting Logan's hands away from stealing the food that had already been placed on the large table. Charles immediately immersed himself with helping finish setting up the table and mentally calling those who have not joined them yet.
Dinner was an awkward affair that night. A heavy blanket of unease settled among them, and everyone tried extra hard to make small talk, which led to a bizarre conversation between Azazel, Logan and Hank about facial hair care. It didn't help matters when at one end of the table sat a silent and brooding Erik, clearly attempting some sort of puppy eye on Charles, but failing completely. It was blatantly obvious the teen on the opposite end of the table was avoiding his normally favorite adult, looking everywhere but straight across from him, and more than a few eyebrows were raised, but nobody dared get in between the two.
Charles, please, I think we need to talk.
The teen flinched slightly, his knife making a painful screech on his plate. The teen bit at his lips and went back to cutting up his piece of medium rare roasted steak fillet with a vengeance.
How about a game of chess. Just you and I. We won't talk about anything you don't want to talk about.
At long last, Charles' brilliant blue eyes took a tentative peek up across the table at Erik, and the man released the breath he didn't know he was holding when Charles' eyes softened, and his cheeks take on a hint of pink.
Okay... I'd like that.
~x~
A game of chess easily turned into three, currently with Erik in the lead. They played in silence, and the atmosphere between them had lost most of the previous harsh intensity, but both remained on edge. Erik was contemplating whether to move his bishop or rook when Charles broke the silence."I've never met him before! I don't- I wouldn't do that, you know. Not to anyone... I don't think I would. I-I wouldn't be able to go ahead with it... Oh God! W-what if I had somehow made him kill-"
"Charles-"
"And that's why he's here! For revenge on me! It's because of me everyone got hurt!"
Charles' body was trembling in anguish and panic, his was rambling and his voice got higher and more broken as he went on. Erik moved quickly to take the teen into a strong embrace, mentally sending him calming thoughts.
"Sshhh... You cannot blame yourself. It was out of your control, out of all of our control."
"But you believe him! You're on his side!"
Tears had built up in those blue eyes looking imploringly at him, and Erik had to pull back in utter shock at what he had just heard.
"What on earth would make you think that?"
"How can I not!? Y-you've been walking about with the helmet on all the time now. It's not because of Emma, she's hardly here. It's not because of Jean since you always have a smile ready for her. So it must be me! You only look at with disappointment now! We don't ever do things together anymore!"
Erik's mind went numb for a few seconds before running overtime to recollect his actions during the last month. Yes, he'd been wearing his helmet around the mansion on a regular basis, but it was really because he could not get over the image of Sinister's final unnerving smirk before he called for his posse to back down and leave Hellfire. He couldn't figure the man's motives. They had been quite evenly matched, much to Erik's frustration, but in an instant, Sinister seemingly raised a white flag and even conceded Hellfire to them. Emma had not been able to penetrate through Sinister's own mental walls, and the little of what she managed to see in those three other men, was of no help in explaining Sinister's sudden withdrawal. The anxiety still lingers with him, and he's lost count of the restless nights he spent worrying whether Sinister was going to show up at Westchester.
That is why he cannot let Cain Marko leave. Not yet.
He has only ever known one way to deal with any of his vulnerabilities, and this is to tackle it full on, to make it obsolete, to bury it, preferably under layers of metal, and the helmet allows him to do so. Allows him to feel safe just that little bit more.
"Charles... I'm truly sorry that I've led you to think I don't care for you, that I'm disappointed or that I'm not on your side..."
Erik tilted Charles downcast face up so they were eye to eye. He may have needed to bend the truth with Charles about things happening around the mansion, but this was one truth that will remain.
"Whatever I do, I choose to do to better our lives. You will always be at the forefront of my concerns. Promise me that you'll remember that I will always have your best interest at heart."
He uses a finger to wipe away the tears nearly dripping out of Charles' eyes, and the young teen leans forward into his touch, closing his eyes and relaxes himself.
"...I promise."
There was a certain look in Charles' eyes that made Erik feel warm and at the same time heartbroken and guilty. He knew that look. He has only seen it a handful of times in his life. It was also the look Charles had in his eyes right before Cuba. That last night, when they played their final game of Chess. It was a look Erik would not dare name, and he believed he really should not encourage, nor that he deserved it. So he gave Charles' shoulders a friendly squeeze before turning to go back to his seat.
"Come on, I believe I was winning yet another round."
For only a moment, so brief that Erik misses it, ache and desolation flickered across Charles' face, but the teen pulled himself together and managed in one blink to put on a well schooled expression of joviality.
"I'm certain I was a few moves away from taking down your king."
Repairs to the mansion have been going steady for the last month. Alex, Sean and Hank utilized this as an opportunity to implement the upgrade modifications that were being planned before Charles turned into a pile of squeals wrapped in a diaper.
Luckily, Hank's laboratory was not damaged in Cain's onslaught, or else his time would have been consumed with rebuilding the chamber with which Charles still receives his weekly treatments. Scott had even suggested that Sean and his brother, the two of them still severely injured and without rapid healing powers, also take advantage of Hank's technology to speed up their recovery, only to have Alex visibly blanch at the idea. Sean knew Alex still inwardly blamed Hank and that pressure chamber for Charles' condition, and he didn't want any friction between them so he stepped in and declined for them, stating that they didn't want to risk irreversible changes to the settings for Charles' treatments.
"You've truly got a knack for resolving tension before it even starts."
Logan had witnessed the whole thing, and even though he wasn't here most of the time, nor does he make it a habit of having a heart to heart talk with anyone in the mansion, he somehow knew exactly what was happening all the time.
The muscular man had been leaning silently against the wall, nursing a bottle of beer after a morning of hard labor around the house, and finally spoke when the others have left the room, leaving just him and Sean.
"What can I say, I like to avoid conflict if possible."
"And that's what I don't get. Blondie doesn't really fit with Charles' halfof the household."
Sean had to admit he's thought along those lines as well. There are moments when Alex reminded him of the Erik he used to know. Rage driven and intend on seeking revenge no matter what it would cost. But Alex still has an anchor.
"Alex fits in here fine. And he's got Scot-"
"You ever think what'll happen when Scott no longer needs Alex?"
"They're brothers, they'll always need each other."
"I had someone I considered a brother once... And let's just say if I ever see him again, I won't hesitate to rip his throat out."
Sean doesn't miss the lingering pain layered underneath the cold anger of Logan's statement. Nor does he miss the unsettling parallel to Charles and Eric's friendship. He wants to believe Charles' accident gave them another chance at working together peacefully, but he knew as and when Charles' memories are recovered the clash of ideologies will increase.
"Then what about you? Where do you stand?"
Logan took one final swig of his beer and made his way out of the room.
"...it's best if I stand alone."
~x~
Logan would rather put on a pair yellow spandex than admit he had enjoyed this longer than his usual brisk and freeloading stay at the mansion. Time had flew by when there was just so much repairs and upgrading to do around the house.
But it was definitely time to leave. Before he was even more deeply attached to this place, and the residents inside it.
Logan packed up his things with a familiar efficiency, albeit haphazardly and messily. He feigned concentration, pointedly ignoring the person he can sense behind his half open door.
"Why wont you stay?"
Jean finally spoke. She had been standing out of sight for ten minutes, but Logan doesn't need to see to know who was there.
"Like I said before, this animal just can't be caged."
Jean gave him a flat unamused, though secretly amused, look. A look which in the coming years Logan would realize was reserved solely for him.
"But you like it here."
The man heaved a sigh and looked straight into Jean's forest green eyes with a broken gentleness that startled the girl a bit.
"And that's exactly why I can't stay."
Before he knew it, Logan had grown too fond of this place, of the feeling of belonging, of the people here, and of a particular sprightly little redhead. He's been kicking himself over just how much he's let them in, and let himself allow his guard down. The last time he did that, the woman he loved had been murdered by a man he should have known not to trust.
A man who is now somehow mixed up with Erik and the others. If he stays with them for longer, his scent could linger of them, and if that man picks up on it... Logan's claws itched to slash out of his skin at the thought of what was at stake. Jean walked into the room and sat down on the bed, next to his half packed duffel.
"Can I look into your mind? Ro says it's not good to keep all that darkness to yourself, maybe I can help you."
"This is something you can't help me with. Besides, you're too young and too pretty to see all the despicable things I've done."
Jean huffs and pouts, green eyes going a few shades darker.
"I can handle it!"
Logan chuckles and flicks away stray strands of lush red hair out of Jean's eyes.
"I'll make you a deal. I'll let you get a peek into my mind on our first date."
The girl stepped back looking flabbergasted and blushing intensely.
"I-I can't date you! I like Sco- I-I mean I... Y-you're ancient! !"
Logan barked out a laugh, and just like that, the bitter tension that was winding within the man had come undone. He should be concerned just how much Jean affected him, and he'd hate to think what it really would be like to know Jean as a woman.
"You really ought to tell him ya'know. That kid is unbelievably dense when it comes to cute little girls salivating after him."
"S-shut up! I-I do not salivate after him! Come on, lunch is nearly ready!"
Jean manhandles the man triple her size out of the room towards the dining room, blushing beet red when Scott hands her a plate of sandwiches.
It would be years later when Logan would complain loudly for near an hour how he should have never encouraged Jean to act on her crush for Scott, and Jean would just smile and quietly reminisce while sipping on some tea.
Sean had left early in the day to go to the Worthingtons estate as an official representative of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. The Worthington's seemed to have known Brian and Sharon Xavier and are fully impressed with Charles accomplishments as well as his school. No doubt with Emma hovering nearby as Mrs. Worthington's Personal Assistant, Sean's meeting with them about Warren's admittance to, as well as general guardianship by, the School went as smooth as the large pearl ring on the madam's finger.
By midday, to the minds and memories of all those left in that vast estate, Warren Worthington had undergone a successful surgery for spinal injury, and was now moving to the best and most elite educational institute befitting for a young man of his stature.
Moira kept her mouth tightly shut, and a hand held securely with Warren's.
~x~
Sean slowly walked towards the threshold of the newly installed mahogany double front doors that were lined with three inches adamantium within. A deathly thin teenage boy with ashy gray skin clung tightly with both hands onto Sean's left arm. His light blonde hair looked dull and easily breakable, and his blue eyes were red rimmed and offset by deep dark circles under them. To the other side of the battered looking teen walked Moira, face stricken and close to tears, a protective arm on the teen's shoulder, almost obstructing the young man's pair of trembling wings. Wings that looked exactly as Moira had previously described, fleshy pink with barely any feathers. The feathers that were left barely looked like feather at all, dull and rumpled, they mostly looked like feathers that have gone through a storm of muddy water.
Behind them walked Emma and Raven who bore a mix of despaired and relieved expressions on her face. It was as if Sean had reached some understanding with them at the Worthington's that Warren will go under his wing and not be exposed until absolutely necessary the violent side of their lives here.
So as to not overwhelm the teen, very few of the adult where at the door to greet him, only the children and Hank, who stood as a symbol that Warren was coming to a place of equals.
As Sean neared the entrance way, Warren suddenly stopped and looked at him with a pleading look. The red haired man thought Warren was having doubts about the place and sought to assure him that this place was safe. Warren gently took Moira's arm off his shoulders, and looked back at the house with a determined expression. Then Sean understood. Warren wanted to make his own way into the house. A real beginning for himself. So Sean stepped through into the foyer, and turned to greet him.
"Welcome home, Warren."
The young man swayed on his legs without the physical support, but Moira had figured it out too, so she had given him the space he needed.
"Wow... an angel!"
Jean was huddled next to Ororo and Charles, and her voice was full of wonder. Warren returned the same look of awe to Jean, only his face flushed, bringing with it a healthy glow to his sun deprived skin. It would be the first time Moira had seen a genuine smile on his face.
"...I'm h-home."
~x~
"M-miss Fros-st... I-I'd like to a-ask a favor of you.. P-please."
Now Emma was not one to hand out favors. To anyone. It's a lesson she's learned early in life. However, she can't ignore a young mutant in need. Especially one who had been locked away and tortured since wings sprouted out from his back when he hit puberty.
"You'll need to tell me what this favor is, sugar. I'm not in the habit of taking on more than I can handle."
"It-it's nothing that'll h-hurt anyone... Jean said t-that she's n-not powerful enough yet to... Please, wipe my head clean. I want a clean slate. I-I want to be of use here, and not..."
Warren's voice cracks, and the effort from keeping the tears at bay made him stutter even more than usual.
"N-not some fragile l-loser, w-who can't even speak w-without choking."
Emma was currently given a golden opportunity. The young man was offering her his mind, without knowing the full consequences of his request. What was even more fascinating was the fact that Jean had not deterred Warren from such action. It was a almost certain if an adult Charles was around, he'd be all over this with knitted gloves and patronizing words about how Warren
If she were a united force with Jean Grey, then the possibilities are boundless. Nathaniel Essex would be no match at all. And neither would Charles Xavier.
"And Jean would have done this for you, had she been powerful enough?"
"W-well Jean didn't r-really say.. J-just said you're m-more powerful."
It wasn't a wholly positive answer, but it was a start. Emma knew she had to play this with utmost caution. If the others, even Erik, find out, it may turn out to be a move against them.
"How about this. I allow you to retain your memories up until your manifestation. I clear your memories of all the pain you suffered after, but not your feelings towards your human relatives."
Of course, she was not going to completely play safe, and she will be stirring up the bitterness and anger just a little more.
"Y-yeah.. Let's try that."
Emma's well drawn lips lifted ever so slightly as she gestured for Warren to take a seat next to her.
"Charles was right to question why you're still keeping Cain here. It's been a month, and I know you've had Emma deal with him already. Why not just wipe his memories and throw him out? What aren't you telling me?"
Raven had understood why Erik wanted to keep Cain around in the beginning. She agreed that it was the best option in a shitty situation. But now, this arrangement does no one any favors. They can't even go down and do repairs on Cerebro because of him.
"I haven't finished with him yet."
Erik sat at Charles' large classically elegant desk, sifting through new piles of government files Janos and Azazel had brought in a few days ago. He had not looked away from what he was reading when he answered.
"Look, I know I should trust you, and you know what, most of the time I do. Unwaveringly so. But this? ThisI need to know in every detail. What's he telling you? In fact, what are you telling him?"
The man sighed and dropped the files onto the table.
"What do you know about Kurt Marko's death?"
"Kurt? I told you before. It was a fire, an accident."
"A laboratory fire accident."
"Yeah, so?"
"Much like how Brian Xavier died. A death Charles blames on Kurt."
Raven stepped right up to the front of the desk and looked at Erik as if he'd just accused her.
"...w-what are you saying? That you think Charles set the fire? What the hell!"
"I know he didn't set the fire. Cain said he was in the laboratory when the fire started."
"I... still don't know what you're trying to get at."
"Cain believes Charles warped his mind so that he would start the fire."
"No... that's impossi- No! Kurt didn't die in the fire, he died from inhaling too much carbon monoxide. He managed to get Charles and I out first, then went back in for Cain."
"Look, it doesn't even matter if Charles did somehow influence Cain or not. I would understand if he had. The issue here is that Cain believes so, and that is his reason for the attack. For revenge."
"No. I-it doesn't make sense. You saw Charles' what their relationship was like even before Brian and Charles was part of their lives. Cain was abused by Kurt, his animosity towards him had developed long before he and Charles lived under the same roof. In any case, why can't you just ask Emma to wipe his mind?"
"I... had hoped to convince him to join us."
With obvious reluctance, Erik manages to maintain direct eye contact with Raven.
"...were you using Charles as some kind of leverage?"
"Yes."
Erik replied without batting an eye. The shapeshifter run her hands up her forehead and through her hair in frustration, then heaved a defeated sigh.
"Fine. But Cain doesn't find out who I am. To him, I'm Mystique. And he leaves this place. He leaves the people who will remain here alone."
"Of course."
There was a degree of relief in Erik's eyes when he returned to reading the files before him. Raven knew that meant the end of the conversation, and she trusted Erik to take what necessary action to allow for her requests to be upheld. She wasn't sure when she had placed so much trust in Erik, but she can't help it, even when she knows Erik doesn't return that same level of trust.
Erik stood under the hot rapid water, massaging the tense muscles of his shoulders and down his back. His eyes were closed so that he could focus on the slighting burning, yet relaxing sensation of the water to help him clear his mind, if only for this short moment. The building steam had made it more difficult to breathe, but somehow that combined with is heart pounded within his chest also helped to ease his mind. That is why he had no idea someone had even entered into the bathroom, let alone the shower box, until a finger trailed down his spine.
"Maus!? W-what are you doing in here?"
Charles stood silently mesmerized by Erik's naked form, by the steaming water flowing down a well toned chest, with just a hint of hair in the middle. He was mesmerized by the droplets of water beading across on Erik's skin, and he reaches up with a trembling finger to trace after one drop that had slowly made its way down, down, down...
"Charles, stop!"
Erik grabbed at Charles' wandering hand and held it firmly between them.
"Y-you don't know what you're doing."
He doesn't know exactly how he got here, nor does he remember taking all his clothes off, but Charles was sure he wanted to do exactly this. With Erik. Right now.
"I know what I'm doing. I know what I feel, and I-"
"Charles, we can't. You're just a-"
"Don't. Don't call me a boy."
Erik's gray green eyes took on an iridescent blue hue under the steam-filled incandescent light. In them Charles could see shock, guilt, conflict, and despair but more importantly the growing dilation of his pupils.
Lust and want.
Charles was sure even Erik could feel that his heart skipped several beats, his whole being going unbearably hot as he slipped his wrist out of Erik's hand, emboldened by the very fact the man's hold on his wrist had so little strength in it. He took loved closer and closer into Erik's space, forcing the man to move back, straight under the full force of the hot water still showering down, until Charles was drenched too, until Erik was backed into the finely detailed mosaic wall. The teen was finding it difficult to breathe, not merely because of nerves, but because the heat was heavy and thick, making his heart and his lung work triple time. He had only just begun his growth spurt, and Charles was more than a little proud that his nether regions have been steadily growing, if not his height yet, thus he had to stand on his tip toes, bracing his weight on Erik's tones wall of a chest, letting his eyes slide shut the nearer his lips were to Erik's.
That fist tentative contact with Erik's lips was not as magical or mind numbing as Charles' vivid and hyperactive imagination, and he would have stopped right there. Only Erik opened his mouth, whether to gasp, or say something to reprimand him, he doesn't know or care, then Charles instinctively slid his tongue into that opening.
Charles melts into the kiss, and it soon becomes all too wet and all too hot, but he wasn't going to stop. His hands grasp at Erik's broad shoulders, feeling the taut tense muscles beneath that layer of burning skin. He tugs Erik even closer, meshes their body inline with each other, fitting not yet perfectly together, but still offering a delicious friction if their combines moans were any indication. Charles can't help himself, he wants to know, what to feel like how Erik feels, so he slides a hand upwards, towards the man's temple...
But he felt nothing.
It was cold and empty.
Just like as if Erik had that helmet on.
And then all the heat suddenly leaves their surrounding space. The body grinding onto his own wasn't there. Wasn't real... Gone.
Charles woke shivering and panting. His body was not shivering from cold, but from something his mind was too fuzzy to get a proper grasp on. He found himself sweating and flushed. Then he felt a cooling wetness down below, between his legs, under the all too warm, heavy duvet.
Bloody. Hell.
Snapshot: The Married Life
Charles aged 4
The chocolate wrapping part is inspired by one of my favorite TV commercials growing up in NZ. I can't remember which chocolate covered almond brand it was for, so I couldn't find a link for that ridiculously charming ad, if anyone knows, holla me!
Also the TV show mentioned below is a few years off the timeline, but meh, close enough.
As mention before, I promised IberisGalloway (FF) with more scenes in Charles and Erik's 'married life' so here be the first, and I've got at least one more to add to their marriage!
Also Kika de Apus (FF) wanted to see jealous!Erik, so here's a taster, there shall be jealous!Erik coming up in the main plot ;)
"Well look at you, maus. Getting all dressed up. What's the occasion?"
Erik walked out of the bathroom after a close shave to the sight of Charles buttoning up his little crisp white shirt with navy stripes, pink tongue sticking out and brows knotted in deep concentration. He hadn't been aware of any special plans for the day, and Raven has not mentioned it was x
Ever since Charles' proposal, the boy had slept with his 'wife' in 'their' bed every night, normally somehow hogging most of the bed, drooling over Erik's shoulder, and subconsciously also hogging blankie. Yes, even blankie, together with Loki and Thor had migrated over onto 'their' bed. Charles was that committed.
"Work!"
"Wo-work?"
"Uh-huh! So you can have bacon and bread for dinner!"
"Riiight.. Thank you so much, but that's really not necessary, maus."
"But if you don't eat bacon, the children can't go to university! I have to work for our children."
Charles stated while he struggled to put his little mini tweed vest, turning in circles to try to get his arm through the sleeve opening. The man didn't even know tweet vests came in children's sizes. Standing just at the edge of 'their' bed is Erik, wearing only his gray sweat pants and a damp towel around his neck, mouth quivering from his brain's indecision to produce what to say next.
The man had tried to put an end to this, thisbeing Charles' bizarre idea of marriage and had thus far failed miserably. He really needed to tell Raven, Angel and Sean to stop filling Charles' head with nonsense, and no more of that Brady Bunch crap either, he knew there was something creepy lurking under all those perfectly placed smiles. No one else in the mansion understood of course, it's all amusingly funny and cute to them. The only one who suffered was Erik.
Charles finally won his fight with his vest and now has his little legs lifted high so he could tug on some miniature navy colored socks, which proved to be a more difficult task for the child since his arms were still short and his slacks gave little stretch.
"Aaaand where do you work exactly?"
"The office!"
There was a tiny hint of 'duh' in Charles' expression, but it was mostly still adoration for his newly wedded bride. Erik doesn't want to inquire further into Charles' 'job', if anything, it could be a good opportunity to have Charles learn a little bit of independence from him. However, right now, there was one pressing matter he cannot let slide for another second longer.
"Maus... Umm.."
Erik crouched down beside Charles, who still had his legs wobbling about in the air.
"You... do know I'm not a girl don't you?"
Charles immediately stopped trying to pull his remaining sock on, and crawled into Erik's lap with one bare foot. The child reached up and stroked gently down Erik's freshly shaven cheek.
"*Pffft* Of course you're not a girl."
Erik doesn't even get the chance to panic over explaining to a four year old boy about the mechanics of reproduction when Charles lit up and explained.
"You're a lady! You're my lady! !"
"Ugghh.. No, that's no-"
"And you've got babies! So you need lotsa rest and bacon! And and bread too!"
Charles tugged at Erik's sweat pants and tried to lead him back to bed. Erik royally regretted ever agreeing to go to Hawaii and thus indulging in Charles' misconception of marriages and pregnancies, that day after the boy's proposal. He'd been sorely out-voted and out-puppy eyed, having nearly shat himself at the sight of Azazel's pleading, glistening eyes all aflutter. Erik finally agreed on the little Hawaiian holiday on the condition that the red skinned mutant never ever use puppy eyes on him again.
Ever since their so called Honeymoon, where Charles kept drizzling honey on Erik's well toned stomach, making sure the honey was drizzled in a circular moon shape when the piece of paper with the moon drawn on top had flown away into the sea, Charles had declared the trip a success and Erik was having their babies. Unfortunately for Erik, Charles knew that babies were not carried in some cloth by a lanky bird. He knew babies will grow in Erik's belly and eventually they'd need to visit the hospital so that Erik can scream and say unspeakable words until the baby comes out of his belly.
After asking Erik with his fluttering lashes to help him attach the mini clip on fire engine red bow-tie, Charles had finally finished dressing, and ran to the other side of the bed to grab something he had placed under the bed without Erik noticing.
"You can't go to work without some breakfast first though."
At the mention of food, the boy's head popped up into view with wide gleaming eyes, and a hungry smile nearly dripping with drool.
"Yeah!"
Charles scrambled from 'his side' of the bed, clutching tightly in one tiny hand an umbrella taller than himself and in the other hand an empty brief case. He lugged and dragged both items across the floor enthusiastically, both being too big for him to lift off the ground without putting it over his head. Erik followed a small distance behind the child, staying well away from the dangerous swaying path of the umbrella, since his heels are still bruised from Charles attempt at sweeping him off his feet.
Everyone else was already at the breakfast table when Erik got there with his feet still intact. Charles dropped the things in his hands and rushed to Erik's usual seat to pull it out for him with gleeful joy. It was both a heart warming and hilarious sight to have this tiny boy wrestling at a wooden seat more than twice his size, then patting off the imaginary flint on the seating so that Erik may rest his buttocks better. Once the man was seated Charles ran and took his place at the head of the large table.
"Eat up! I gots work today, so everyone needs to be good and quiet, so Erik can rest."
Charles sat on his child seat enhanced chair, courtesy of Hank's redesign so that the boy could actually see what was on the table without standing on the chair, and waved his hands animatedly while talking to the table like they were all his children.
"Are you sick, Erik?"
Before Erik could give an answer to Scott, Charles beat him to it.
"No silly! Erik's got babies, and he needs more rest after his bacon."
"...babies?"
Alex asked just to make sure he hadn't misheard. Charles nods proudly back at him, preening.
"Riiight... babies. Yes, of course. Sure, we'll be quiet, and let him have all the bacon he needs."
By the end of his sentence, almost everyone had given Erik their share of breakfast bacon, and Alex was not the only one with sprained stomach muscles from withholding laughter. Even Emma had to cover her mouth. Erik proceeds to dig furiously into his pile of heart attack on a platter, and across from him, Charles was wolfing down his scrambled eggs and toast with equal force. In no time at all, the toddler's plate was cleaning even of crumbs, and he was sliding off his seat, skipping towards his briefcase.
"All done! I'mma off to work! I'll be home with more bacon and bread tonight!"
"Maus! You haven't had your milk yet."
Charles huffs out a sigh and drags his weight towards Erik, almost as if he had a tail between his legs. Charles still preferred apple juice to most other drinks and he really doesn't seem to like plain milk much. Nonetheless, he make himself comfortable on his most prized cushion that is Erik's lap, and allowed the man to help him hold up his cup of warmed milk. It took the boy longer to finish his milk than have his actual breakfast, but that was probably because Charles wanted to savor his moment on his cushion just a tad longer. He reluctantly slides off Erik's lap only to put his ear right up against the man's stomach.
"Erik! Erik! ! Our babies! Is moving! !"
Erik tried to maintain an exasperated look down on top of Charles' mop of chocolate brown waves, but the pure exuberance that was coming off Charles, now huddled even more closely to his digesting and rumbling belly, only led him to smile fondly and ruffle at Charles' hair. Erik gives in, and indulges.
"Is that so? How many mini maus do you think there are?"
"Twins! ! A boy and a girl!"
The man chuckles then straightens Charles' little bow-tie.
"Alright, Mr. Xavier, you don't want to be late for work to do?"
Charles pulls Erik down for a smooch on the lips before making a round of the table to give everyone else a peck on the cheek, he bumbles out towards the study with briefcase and umbrella in tow. Only ten seconds later, his head pops back into view, with an arched brow and reprimanding look.
"Hank! Time for work!"
Said man had a forkful of eggs an inch away from his wide open and awaiting mouth. His bright yellow eyes put further emphasize on the deer caught in headlights look.
"Oh? Oh. Right. Okay. Yes, work. I'll be right with you."
And so it was, Charles 'work' became Hank's lab partner on Mondays, Emma's teacher's assistant on Tuesdays, Angel's and Raven's errand helper on the days they went out and Logan's training assistant, whereby the boy growled endlessly at Scott, while putting on his most manly stance with arms crossed and sucking on a celery stick because he wasn't allowed near Logan's smelly treats.
Erik had to admit his days felt more empty with Charles' constant presence, but he took it as a chance to catch up on progress with matter at Hellfire and further mutant recruitment, while also helping with any on-going construction.
~x~
The metal manipulator had spent his Charles-less days mostly underground in the bunker on Cerebro and plans for other extensions, so it was not an understatement to say he was surprised if not a bit taken aback at the sight of a stranger making googly eyes at an equally googly-eyed and blushing Charles in his arms. Not that he felt jealous or anything. Of course not. The man was clearly no competition. Not his sunny blonde hair, cut and parted just the right side of camp. Nor his broad shoulders backed up with impressive muscles that even a blind person can tell hides underneath that uniform. And certainly not his perfectly formed ass that even Logan was nodding about. No, Erik was beyond all that. He was substance over form, and no one who looked like that could not be a total asshole.
"Erik! Steve's gonna be staying over Christmas! !"
The man, Steve, turned around with a bright smile and promptly put a hand forward in greeting.
"Steve Rogers. Pleasure to meet you at last, Erik."
Steve Rogers? Where had he heard this name before?
Well, whoever ever this Steve Rogerswas, Erik was immeasurably uncomfortable with just how comfortable Charles was in the man's preposterously well proportioned arms. Not that he was jealous, of course not, he just didn't want Charles to form an attachment to someone who will be leaving after a few days. Once Erik kicks him out.
"So Steve, what do you do?"
Erik completely ignores everyone else's weird looks, even his own brain scolding him for sounding exactly like an over protective father interrogating a boyfriend, and glares at Rogers with his arms crossed tightly, and a foot tapping impatiently.
"Well, I'd like to say I'm still enlisted, but I think it's more like freelance."
The man's overly vague answer only adds to Erik's agitation, and his left eye starts twitching.
"Right, and your business here?"
"I was hoping to have Charles clear me for full employment. I guess they still think I'm a bit unstable, having been frozen in ice for so long... But I guess I came at a bad time? Don't worry, Dr. McCoy's already got me up to date."
Sean then cut into their awkward conversation with question after question about the man's travels and adventures. Erik slumps onto the couch, focusing entirely on not pouting when Ccharles don't not want to leap into his lap. Not soon later, Rogers discovers Charles asleep and drooling onto his shoulder, since is it the boy's usual nap time."Oh, don't worry, I'll take him. It's not hassle at all, I know the way."
Rogers easily and thoughtlessly brushes off Erik's attempt at getting Charles back, and carefully takes the slumbering boy out of the room. Erik counts to ten before grabbing Sean by his collar and demanding to know the necessary details.
"Who the hell is he? How does he know Charles?" And where he sleeps.
"Steve!? He's like a superhero! I don't know how they know each other, they just do. He visited once awhile back for telepathic therapy, and Charles had nothing but great things to say about- Whoa, wait. You're jealous!"
Sean laughed so hard he had tears forming at the edges of his eyes.
"Oh I gotta tell-"
"Don't you dare Cassidy. I just don't trust the guy. No one can be that perfect and nice."
He practically snarled out that last word, as if the word itself was a disease.
"Yeah yeah. Look, I'm sure your husband will remain faithful to you. Besides, jealously isn't a good look on you."
"Shut up."
~x~
The coming days, Erik saw less and less of Charles, and whenever he did, Rogers would always be with the boy too. Charles had even stopped sleeping in Erik's room. And no, Erik was still not jealous. No, his lack of sleep and even deeper scowl, which is sure to add a few lines on his forehead, was due to his mistrust of the man who still could not figure a mutant or not, nor friend or foe. It had nothing to do with jealously or hurt.
It was two days before Christmas, and Charles could no longer wait. As soon as everyone settled into their seats, Charles ran around with a sack of small gifts which were obviously wrapped by the boy himself, and a signed card attached onto each.
.
...
Earlier in the day...
".. A.. N.. G.. E.. L... Love, Charl-"
Hank has not seen this level of concentration in Charles since he was told he could only pick one flavor of cookies to eat some weeks ago. Charles holds a thick red crayon in his right hand, still somewhat awkwardly, and writes hard onto a card. His tongue sticks out when he is not verbally spelling out the letters he writes. The toddler's self designated work station in the laboratory was currently a colorful mess of shiny seasonal wrapping paper and even shinier ribbon foil. Next to the spattering of wrapping paper was a box with chocolate covered almonds scattered from the opening, which Hank guessed Charles must have begged for during his last trip for groceries.
Charles takes one piece of the dark glistening confectionery and places it at one corner of a square sheet of wrapping, rolls it like a cigar containing the chocolate, then folds both sides so that it is fully enclosed, and finally pre-cut piece of sticky tape is used to hold the wrapping in place. Charles looks triumphantly at his work, while popping two pieces of chocolate into his gleeful mouth, and begins the next card.
"To... A.. Z.. Z.. Z.. Z..A-"
One by one names are written, chocolates are wrapped and more chocolates were devoured, until Charles' legs swing in excitement at the final name.
"To... E.. R.. I.. C... Lots of love from.."
Charles took extra time with Erik's card, adding little hearts all over the card. The rhythm of his swinging legs faltered when Charles reached over to the box of chocolates and felt nothing. He picked up the box and shook it upside down just to make sure, and his large eyes went ever wider while his mouth opened to take a long deep dramatic gasp. The box fell out Charles' hands and made a loud empty slap on the ground.
…
.
"And this one's for you Steve. Merry Christmas!"
"Thank you so much, Charles! Merry Christmas to you too."
Rogers, the, way too perfect to not be evil, asshole, knelt down from his chair and gave Charles a tight warm hug, which the child happily returned. Charles then seemed really reluctant to turn around to face the final person yet to receive a gift from the child. His little hands fiddled nervously at the rather empty ruck sack, and one of his feet draw little squeaky circles on the polished hard wood floor.
"I'm so-sorry Erik, I-I ran out of them... s-so..."
"Hey... it's alright, maus. I don't need a gift to have a Merry Christm-"
Charles is crying into Erik's woolen sweater before the man finishes his sentence.
"I'm sorry... I c-couldn't stop eatin' them!"
"Shhh... don't cry maus, I'll I wish for Christmas is for you to be safe and happy."
Steve clears his throat in an attempt to get Charles attention.
And for Rogers to leave as soon as possible. But Erik settles for glaring at the man with a frosty smile even Emma would be proud of.
"Charles, are you forgetting something?"
"Oh yeah! Hold on, Erik!"
Charles jumped off Erik's lap and dashed away with excitement. An excitement Rogers was also reflecting. Erik decides that is proof there is something definitely wrong with the man.
"Steve helped me all week, and I been staying up late for it too..."
Erik was rendered speechless. His hands ghosted over a hand knit, in some places crookedly knit, maroon scarf the exact same maroon as his cape.
"I...Thank you, this has to be the best Christmas present I've ever received. Thank you maus, Merry Christmas."
He picks Charles up and gives the child a truly heartfelt embrace, too embarrassed and ashamed to look Rogers in the eye.
"Merry Christmas Erik... love you."
Charles clung onto Erik, and whispers shyly that final part into his neck. Erik couldn't help but strengthen his possessive arms around the boy, and breathe a long loud sigh of relief. Relief for the return of his Charles.
He also could not help being a little freaked out over just how perfect and nice this Steve Rogers was.