Sorry, again, for the lateness. I work at a museum and it's been seriously insane with visitors.
Sorry, this chapter as been reposted with updates. Missy the Least pointed out something that I hadn't even realized I'd messed up, so thank you Missy.
Ever since that night they'd played chess together, Xavier had decided that they were suddenly best friends. Erik hadn't thought it possible, but Xavier talked even more than before. And the weird thing was…Erik was starting to enjoy the background noise of the other man's voice. Was enjoying his company. They were in the gym, stretching before a run, when Xavier abruptly asked, "How'd you become a Secret Service agent, Erik?"
Erik replied shortly, "I applied. They accepted."
Xavier laughed. "No, really. How?"
Erik straightened. "You ready?" he asked, avoiding the question.
"Almost," he replied.
Erik waited and Xavier stood a minute later. They headed for the track and managed to run silently for the first mile before the other man repeated his question. Erik shook his head and said, "You're not one to give up easily, are you?"
"Not really, no. So how did you join?"
Erik huffed, but answered, "I knew someone who was an agent at the time. He approached me at school, said he saw something in me and invited me to join him in America, join the Secret Service." He shrugged. "I didn't really have anything better to do with my life at that point so I came." Xavier was surprised, Erik could tell. "So that's my story," Erik finished.
But of course Xavier wanted more. "That was a wonderfully short story that told me nothing about you at all. Want to try again?"
Erik shot him a quick glance, but Xavier was focused on the track. Eh, what the hell. "I'd just finished my degree in engineering, was living in my parents' old house when I met Sebastian. He was…different, than anyone else I'd known. Had that worldly quality to him, you know? Anyway, I ended up helping him out and he offered me a job here in the States. My parents had died by then so I was alone, not really sure what to do with my life so I agreed. I left Germany, and home, behind for the Secret Service and never looked back."
After a moment, Charles said quietly, "I'm sorry your mother never got to see you as a man."
"Me too. At least you've got Raven," Erik said quietly, unsure how to proceed. Charles' responses were unpredictable.
But Xavier just smiled. "I do."
A few minutes later, Xavier asked another question. "So, be honest: what was your first thought when you were assigned to my protection detail?"
Erik shot him a glance as they rounded the corner of the track. Charles was keeping up nicely so he gradually increased the pace as they hit the straight section. "Honestly?" Charles nodded. "Not good. I figured your running was some kind of PR stunt; that there was no way in hell you could ever handle running a country."
Charles huffed a laugh. "I did ask for honestly, didn't I? And now that you've met me?"
Erik gave it a couple minutes, working out an appropriate response. After all, it wasn't like he could just blurt out that he was having trouble keeping things professional. Charles was nothing like he'd thought. Charles was bright, and cheerful, and brave, and handsome, and strong, and…ah scheiße (translation: ah, shit).
"Erik." Charles said and he got the feeling it wasn't the first time.
He shook his head and replied, "What?"
"Is everything all right?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Charles hesitated a second. "Well, it's just…you haven't answered my question plus we've slowed down considerably which is a tad worrying considering the fact that you've been forcing me to run faster and faster every time we round a corner."
Ficken (translation: fuck). "Sorry. Just thinking." Erik forced himself to pick up the pace, and if it was the fastest they'd gone that day, Charles didn't say anything.
Thankfully, Xavier dropped the subject and they finished their run in surprisingly companionable silence, despite the heavy discussion.
They were headed over to join Scott and Alex when Charles abruptly asked, "Could I do it, do you think?"
Without looking over, Erik replied, "Do what?"
"Be President."
Erik stopped so quickly it took Charles a few steps to catch on and turn to face him. His tone serious, Erik told him, "I have no doubts whatsoever that you would make a fantastic President, Charles."
Charles turned bright red. In a small voice, he answered, "Truly?"
Gott hilf mir, ich denke ich bin auf ihn fallen (translation: God help me, I think I'm falling for him), Erik thought but said, "Truly."
Their eyes met and locked for a moment. Erik felt an undeniable spark and a tug low in his gut. Mentally shaking it off, he said brusquely, "Let's go. I'm sure you have grading to get to." He started off again, not looking at Charles as he did. Shit shit shit…kept repeating in his head.
Author's note: sorry, had to put Charles' pov of the scene in
They were getting ready for their usual night run, stretching along the wall. Charles kept sneaking glances at the agent, wondering about him. About his past, his family, how he ended up where he is…Abruptly, he asked, "How'd you become a Secret Service agent, Erik?"
"I applied. They accepted."
He laughed a little. "No, really," he responded. "How?" He truly wanted to know. One of the great mysteries that was Erik.
Erik got to his feet. "You ready?"
Avoiding the question, of course. "Almost," Charles replied, from a slightly perverse need to make him wait. He gave it another minute before standing as well and they started jogging, the only ones using it then. Charles wondered how long before he should ask again. He gave it a mile and repeated it.
Erik shook his head and said, "You're not one to give up easily, are you?"
"Not really, no." Not when the mystery I'm trying to solve is you, he thought. "So how did you join?"
Erik huffed but did actually answer. Sort of. "I knew someone who was an agent at the time. He approached me at school, said he saw something in me and invited me to join him in America, join the Secret Service." He shrugged. "I didn't really have anything better to do with my life at that point so I came." Charles gaped at him in surprise and Erik finished with, "So that's my story."
That was his story? That told him nothing! Looks like I'm going to have to push. "That was a wonderfully short story that told me nothing about you at all. Want to try again?"
Erik took a moment but this time added some more personal details, ones Charles desperately wanted. "I'd just finished my degree in engineering, living in my parents' old house when I met Sebastian. He was…different, than anyone else I'd known. Had that worldly quality to him, you know? Anyway, I ended up helping him out and he offered me a job here in the States. My parents had died by then so I was alone, not really sure what to do with my life so I agreed. I left Germany, and home, behind for the Secret Service and never looked back."
After a moment, Charles asked quietly, "I'm sorry your mother never got to see you as a man."
"Me, too. At least you've got Raven," Erik said quietly.
Charles couldn't help the smile that bloomed across his face at the mention of his sister. Raven was a miracle, honestly, and such a light in his life. He couldn't imagine doing this without her. "I do," he said softly.
He let Erik relax, understanding somehow that he didn't share easily. But he was still deeply curious about the other man so the next question nearly popped out of him. "So, be honest: what was your first thought when you were assigned to my protection detail?"
Erik shot him a glance as they rounded the corner of the track. Charles couldn't tell what it meant. Then Erik increased their pace and Charles inwardly groaned. Yes, he was doing better but he still hated running in circles. "Honestly?" Charles nodded, curious. "Not good. I figured your running was some kind of PR stunt; that there was no way in hell you could ever handle running a country."
Well now….that hurt a bit. Charles huffed a laugh. "I did ask for honestly, didn't I? And now that you've met me?"
Erik didn't respond for a bit, didn't look at him and he suspected he'd touched a nerve or something. Perhaps I should apologize. "Erik?"
Nothing. He tried again, "Erik." A third time. "Erik."
Erik suddenly shook his head and snapped, "What?"
Charles ventured, "Is everything all right?" Please tell me I haven't ruined things between us already.
"Yeah. Why?"
Crap. Crap crap crap. "Well, it's just…you haven't answered my question plus we've slowed down considerably which is a tad worrying considering the fact that you've been forcing me to run faster and faster every time we round a corner."
"Sorry. Just thinking." Erik ran faster, faster than before, actually, but Charles chose not to say anything for a while, letting the silence relax things between them for the rest of the run.
But he still wondered about Erik's opinion of him now. He'd said, oh what was the wording? No way in hell he could handle running a country. Was that what Erik thought of him still or had the past few weeks changed his mind? They were walking over to join Scott and Alex when it burst out of him. "Could I do it, do you think?" Shit. Too late to take it back.
"Do what?" Erik answered absently.
"Be President." Charles didn't know why but he needed Erik to say yes, to say that he believed in Charles. Then he realized Erik wasn't next to him anymore and turned around, an eyebrow raised.
"I have no doubts whatsoever that you would make a fantastic President, Charles," Erik said very seriously.
Charles turned bright red. Oh. And yet…"Truly?" he asked, his voice sounding small to him.
Erik's gaze was steady on him as he responded, "Truly."
There! That spark…Charles had been feeling attracted to Erik for a while now but he'd never once considered that Erik might return the feeling.
Erik said brusquely, "Let's go. I'm sure you have grading to get to." He started off again, not looking at Charles as he did.
Charles trailed after him, thinking furiously. If Erik felt even a smidgeon of attraction to him…maybe Raven would have some ideas.
Erik's phone buzzed in his pocket and he stepped up to whisper in Charles' ear, "I'll be right back." Charles nodded and continued his conversation with the businessmen in front of him. He took a few steps away for privacy and answered it. "Lensherr…whoa, Jean, slow down. You're talking too fast. Take a breath. Okay, now. What happened? And slowly." As she filled him in, he waved the brothers over. "Okay. Text me the address; we'll meet you there."
"What's going on?" Alex asked, frowning.
"That was Jean. Raven's in the hospital." They looked about as he felt. This wasn't supposed to happen, damn it; they were supposed to keep her safe! Erik took a breath, ordered them to stay put and went to grab Charles. Tapping him on the shoulder quickly garnered him Charles' undivided attention and Erik lost his train of thought briefly when he met those blue eyes.
"What is it, Erik?" Charles asked concernedly.
Reiß dich zusammen, Erik! (translation: Get a grip, Erik!). "We have to leave. Now," he said, trying to keep the urgency out of his tone and clearly failing at the look on Charles' face. It was a mark of how close they'd gotten that Charles immediately turned and apologized to his group then walked over to the brothers with him. As they headed out the door, Erik tossed the keys to Alex and ordered, "Get the car." He blinked as Alex ran off, something glinting in the sunlight at just the right angle to hit his eyes.
"Erik, what's happened? Why are we leaving?" Charles finally asked as they stood on the sidewalk, waiting for Alex to return.
Erik shifted as the light blinded him again, and frowned. Something wasn't quite right…
"Erik? Scott, do you know?" Charles tried again to get an answer.
Erik frowned, studying the light source intently. Looks like the sun's hitting something long…and…cylindrical? Shit. It clicked in his brain and he shouted, "Down!" even as he shoved Charles to the side, knocking him into Scott and they all hit the ground.
A second later a bullet slammed into the door behind them right where Charles' head was. Would've been.
"Oh my god," Charles breathed, sitting up, his face pale.
Erik shoved him back down, made them crawl over to hide behind a car parked at the curb. "Stay down," he ordered quietly and drew his gun. He started to his feet, intending to use the car windows to see—
Crash! He dropped back down as the window shattered, glass shards raining down upon his shoulders. Swearing, Erik brushed it off. "Scott, can you see? I can't figure out where he's shooting from."
Scott got to his knees only to dive back down a moment later as the back window shattered.
"Ficken," Erik muttered.
Charles spoke up, his voice shaking. "Okay, I don't know German all that well, but that doesn't sound good."
Erik glanced at him. Charles was sitting with his back against the tire, arms around his legs, face pale. He met Erik's gaze. "I promised to protect you, Charles. Don't worry." Then he remembered: Alex. He put a hand to his ear and said into the comm, "Alex, building across the street, twelfth or so floor. Get there now, find that damn shooter."
"On it," Alex responded and Erik settled himself more comfortably, dropping his free hand onto Charles' shoulder and squeezing lightly. Charles placed a hand on top of Erik's; he was shaking a little.
Scott murmured, "Be careful, Alex."
"Chill, bro. I got this."
Erik debated trying to get another look, draw the shooter's attention. He shared a look with Scott. Scott shifted to the left, drew his gun and jumped up, firing through the window quickly and dropping back down. Plaster exploded from the wall behind them. Charles flinched and Erik tightened his grip on the other man's shoulder.
A few minutes later, Alex's voice buzzed in his ear, "Got him. You're good to go."
"Good job, Alex," Erik said in relief. The three of them stood up, Erik and Scott holstering their guns. "Scott, call the police. Can you and Alex handle things here while I check in with Jean?"
Scott nodded. "Yeah. Go."
Erik nodded, said, "Meet us at the hospital when you're finished here," and headed for the car, knowing Charles would follow.
Charles suddenly asked, "Hospital? Is Raven okay?"
Erik did not want to answer that question right then. "Alex, where'd you leave the keys?"
"Driver's seat," Alex said, a bit breathy.
"Erik," Charles persisted, catching up to him. "What's going on?"
Erik kept walking, continually scanning the area for more threats. It wasn't until they'd reached the car and he was checking it to be sure it was safe to drive when Charles demanded, "Is my sister okay?" Sounding panicked, Charles said, "Is she…is Raven alive?"
Erik took him by the arm and dragged him around to the passenger side door where he calmly informed Charles, "Jean called and said she slipped and was unconscious. It's probably nothing but they're taking her to the hospital just in case." That seemed to appease Charles so when Erik opened the door, he got in.
Charles was incredibly grateful to have Erik at his side right then. He was such a calming presence, a good counterpoint to the panic he was feeling at the moment. Raven was hurt. He couldn't lose her; she was everything to him. Erik parked and Charles was out and hurrying for the door before the car was fully shut off. Erik caught up to him easily but didn't say anything. Perhaps he understood how Charles was feeling.
He pushed his way through the swivel doors and hurried over to the reception desk. "Raven Xavier, what room is she in?"
The middle-aged woman at the desk looked up and said in a bored tone, "Can I help you, sir?"
"My sister," he repeated urgently. "Raven Xavier, where is she?"
Erik stepped in, putting a hand on his shoulder, speaking calmly. "A young blonde woman, she was brought in an hour ago by two other women, one a redhead, the other Latina. Raven Xavier was her name. Could you tell us if she's been admitted?"
The receptionist smiled at Erik and turned to her computer. Charles wrung his hands. Please let her be all right, please let her be all right, please—
"Ah, yes. She's been admitted. You're her brother, you said?" When he nodded, she handed over two visitor's badges and said, "Seventh floor, go on up."
"Thank you," Charles breathed and rushed for the elevator, nearly shutting the door on Erik in the process.
Muzak filled the small space and Erik said, "Stop pacing."
"I can't help it."
"Freaking out is not going to help Raven. It will only freak her out more, so take a moment now to calm yourself down."
Charles turned to him. "Do you not understand that Raven is all I've got? She's the only family I have, the only one I've ever been able to depend on! If something's happened to her because of me…" he trailed off, his imagination messing with him. He could just see it now: Raven lying in a hospital bed, unconscious, covered in blood…all because of him.
An arm snaked around his shoulders, and he found himself pressed against Erik's chest. That was also when he realized he was crying a bit.
Erik rubbed his back. "Your sister is going to be fine. This is just a precaution."
Charles took a shaky breath, clinging to Erik's shirt. Rather out of character for Erik, but much appreciated nonetheless. It was nice to be held, for once, instead of being the one doing the holding and comforting. The soft bing of the elevator stopping forced them apart. Charles smiled weakly at Erik as they stepped out into the hall. "Thank you."
Erik shrugged, looking distinctly embarrassed. "Let's go find her room."
He let Erik handle this floor's receptionist, considering the main floor's reaction to him. Erik walked over to him after a moment and said, "This way."
Down a hall, around a corner then a knock on a door followed by Angel's face appearing. "Erik! Charles, good to see you. Come on in."
She opened the door fully and Charles fair flew into the room, his gaze frantically searching until it landed on his sister's face. Who was awake and looking at him. He hurried to her side, taking her hand and kissing it. "Raven, I got here as fast as I could. Are you okay? What happened?"
"Easy, bro." Raven smiled at him and he relaxed. No IV tubes or anything other than a heart monitor on her finger and a bandage across her forehead. "I'm fine. Just bruises and a bump on the head. No big deal, honestly."
"Thank god," he murmured, reaching out to smooth her hair off her face. "When Erik said you were in the hospital, I just…"
Raven's gaze softened. "I'm sorry to have worried you. I'm fine, Charles. You're stuck with me for a long time."
Charles managed a smile then looked over at the three agents. "What happened?" he asked, a bit plaintively.
Jean and Angel exchanged sheepish looks while Erik moved to stand next to him, arms crossed. Charles was grateful to have him near. Jean finally spoke up. "We were leaving her dorm, heading for class. She'd gotten ahead of us by a couple steps and reached a patch of sidewalk that had this sort of shimmer on it. I was just pointing it out to Angel when Raven hit it and went flying. Knocked her head on the ground bad enough to knock her out. Angel and I brought her straight here and I called Erik."
"And making it sound a million times worse in the process," Erik added, his voice tight.
Jean winced and Charles turned back to his sister, relieved. "What was on the sidewalk?"
Raven shrugged. "No clue. And I was in my hiking boots, which have sick tread on them so there was no reason I should have slipped. Whatever it was took my feet right out from under me instantly. Next thing I know, I'm waking up here with some nurse trying to shove something in my arm and failing."
Charles laughed a little. That was Raven, all right. She was going to be fine.
Erik said, "Did the two of you think to get a sample of what was on the sidewalk?"
Angel said, "We couldn't get it off. It felt almost like black ice? But like it was almost sprayed or painted onto that section of the sidewalk. It wasn't anywhere else."
"Anyone else around? Anyone walking down the sidewalk before you?" Erik continued to question them.
"Not that we could see," Jean said.
"See what?" A male voice entered the conversation and they all turned to see Scott and Alex enter the room. Scott slipped an arm around Jean's waist and kissed her cheek. "You okay, babe?" She nodded and Scott turned to Erik. "In police custody. Hopefully they'll be able to get something out of him that'll help us."
"Wait," Raven said, glancing between the brothers and Charles. "Did something happen to you, too, Charles?"
Charles bit his lip. "We were shot at, on our way over here."
Raven sat up. "Oh my god! Charles! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did they catch the bastard?"
Erik interrupted, "He's fine. We caught him. Calm down before the nurse comes in here wondering if you're having a heart attack."
Raven shot him a glare, making Charles smile faintly, but settled back against the pillow. "So?"
"What?" Charles asked.
"What do you mean, what? What happened?"
Charles sighed and gave her the abridged version before abruptly realizing something. He turned to Erik and said, "Thank you, for saving my life."
Erik rubbed the back of his neck. "It's my job."
"But still," Charles persisted. "Thank you."
Raven asked, "So this shooter, do you think he's the one behind the threats against us?"
Erik replied, "It's possible. It's also possible he's just a hit man hired for the day."
Something occurred to Charles, then, clicking in his mind. "Oh god," he mumbled, blinking, and swayed. He felt faint. Hands immediately clamped on his shoulders and forced him into a chair. "Oh god."
"Charles. Charles, look at me." Charles forced himself to focus on Erik, now kneeling in front of him, his hands resting on Charles' knees. "What is it?"
"I just realized."
"Realized what?"
"It's all me." He knew his voice sounded faint but didn't care. His mind was reeling. "The threats, the sidewalk, the shooter…I have to do it."
"Do what, Charles?" Erik was sounding a bit frustrated with Charles' half-sentences.
He blinked a few times, focusing on Erik's wonderful grey eyes. "Drop out of the race. I can't put Raven in danger any longer. It's not fair to her."
"Don't you dare, Charles!" Raven said forcefully. He turned to look at her. "You have to stay in the race, prove to these bastards that they're not getting to you."
"She's right, Charles," a quiet voice said from the back. "You can't give up," came another. He didn't bother to identify them, focusing on his sister.
Charles shook his head. She didn't understand. "Raven, I can't. Not if you're going to be collateral damage. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you. Especially because of me."
"Bullshit!" His mouth dropped open at the term. Raven continued, "Yes, you took care of me growing up, but I'm an adult now. I can take care of myself. You don't have to plan your life around me anymore. You can win this; and you will be brilliant as President. I know it. So don't you dare throw in the towel! Not now; and certainly not because of me."
Charles looked at her helplessly. He opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to work out what to say but couldn't.
Erik said quietly, "You can't back down from people like this, Charles. Think of your stepfather." Charles' head whipped around to face him. "Whoever's behind this is just like him: using intimidation tactics to get you to do what they want. You can't let them win; you're stronger than that."
Against Raven and Erik both teaming up, Charles took a shaky breath and nodded. "Okay. I'll stay in the race." Raven cheered but Charles added, "Under the condition that nothing else happens to Raven or I will drop out."
Erik nodded. "I promise, Charles; we'll keep her safe."
"Okay, then." Another breath, steadier this time. "Where's the doctor? I want to know when Raven can leave."
Erik's mouth twitched in what might almost have been a smile as he got to his feet. "I'll find one."
Charles smiled gratefully at him. Erik may not have originally wanted to be here, but Charles would be forever grateful to have him.