"What are we going to do once we get to D.C?" Charles was not surprised by the question. Indeed he had been expecting it at some point but after everything that had happened to him lately he had rather been hoping that Erik would have waited until morning.
Erik was not the most patient man in the world however. He sat in his chair, looking every inch the emotionless businessman as he surveyed the board with one leg thrown over a knee and arms crossed. Charles moved his piece and sat back. He sincerely wished he could have had vodka before he was asked this question.
"It depends on how we're received," he replied mildly.
"You know how we'll be received, with fear and hatred. Violence too, more than likely. It is inevitable Charles. I suppose my real question is how are we going to react to our reception?" Erik was not looking at him as he said this, but Charles could hear the hard edge in his friends' voice. He had his mind made up about humans, and it was times like these when Charles doubted that he could change that.
"We're going to be the better man, Erik," a sardonic cock of the eyebrow implied disagreement. Erik's mouth tensed into a straight line of mockery.
"Ah, yes. The Pacifists way," he chuckled darkly.
Charles felt a migraine coming. He held his ground. "It is the only way to bring peace," a swift counterstrike to an attack on his defenses.
Erik dodged the counter. "Whoever said anything about peace?" He asked.
An easy enough question. "The people who don't want world domination," he replied calmly.
Erik glanced up. "We're the next stage in evolution Charles. We're designed by nature to dominate. The humans know this, and they will fight it. They will hunt us, and if we don't do something now, our time on this Earth will end," he gave his inspiring lecture on unity and purpose. Charles gave a sardonic smile of his own.
"Ah, but if we're designed by nature to dominate then it won't matter what the humans do to us now will it? Whether we are at war or live in peace with them, eventually this world will be overtaken by mutants. We've already won the survival game my friend, now all that remains is to begin building the foundations of a new race," his King stepped into place, regally. "A race built on the foundations of peace and tolerance." Erik sneered.
"You don't honestly believe the humans will allow that? That they won't hate us and want to annihilate us?" His Queen was suddenly there, a square off. Charles looked up into eyes fierce with the fires of genocide.
"I'm sure they already do," white and black gleamed in the orange lamplight. "But I have observed that fear is a state of mind, my friend. It will take time, but if we overturn that state…"
"A very pretty ideal, Charles, but unrealistic. When a man points a gun at the head of your sister, are you going to be the better man or a brother?" Erik's Queen was swept away with a bit more force than was necessary. Charles allowed a deep exhaled to smear away the panic and rage that had suddenly consumed him at the idea of his sister in danger. Erik smiled bitterly, aware of Charles's subtle slip of control.
He retraced his steps, doubled back into calmness once more. "That was a low blow, Erik," the truth stung.
Erik shrugged. "Just pointing out something that could save your life," he sounded very smug for a man who had not even ten minutes before been consumed by guilt.
Charles forced himself to remain unperturbed. He stroked his chin, feeling the coarseness beneath his fingers. "Then let me return the favor. Your mother was a human," Erik stiffened. "It was a mutant who ended her life," he was walking a thin line and he knew it, but somehow he doubted Erik would kill him.
Maim him probably, but perhaps it was just for the best. He couldn't feel his blasted legs anyway. He looked up into Erik's shocked and enraged eyes, steepling his fingers together. "Just pointing out something that could save your soul," he said.
Erik growled low in his throat and the metal in the room shook briefly before stilling once more. At last, Erik only shook his head, a small smile on his face. He raised his defeated piece in a salute.
"Touché, my friend," the conversation lapsed into a comfortable silence, their minds retreating from the emotions evoked into the game. Unexpectedly, Charles felt a disturbance in the general smoothness of minds. He narrowed his eyes. Sean.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. "Alex? Is that you?" he heard the young man call out, and he knew it wasn't Alex. Alex was on the deck of the ship watching the waves roll by and thinking about his family. There was someone else in that room with Sean, someone who shouldn't have been there…
"Erik," the other man straightened, immediately on alert. He knew that tone of voice. He studied Charles's face in the light, eyes attentive, body ready. Charles could swear sometimes Erik read his mind. It was disconcerting.
"What is it?"
"Get to Sean's room. Now!" Whoever was there with the boy, he was hostile. Worse than that, he was armed. Erik shot to his feet without question. Flinging himself out of the doorway and down the hall.
Charles pressed two fingers to his forehead and stretched his mind out further. He shoved an urgent message into the young man's mind. Sean, get out of there!
It was too late. The intruder had sprung. Charles watched through Sean's eyes as the shadow of the room came to life, jumping from hiding at him. He felt a sharp pain in his head and cringed. Thankfully, Sean was not damaged too badly. Charles smiled when the young man let out a shrill shriek that smashed the intruder against the opposite wall.
Well done, my boy, he thought as he then entered the man's mind, effectively taking control. The door to the small alcove swung open, revealing Erik standing in the doorway.
"Sean?"
A hand on Sean's shoulder. Erik could be exceptionally kind when he put his mind to it. Sean was wobbling where he stood, gasping for breath. Bring him here, Erik, he has a head injury. I've frozen his attacker. Meld him to a wall, would you? Charles directed. Grumbling something unflattering about humans, Erik did as he was ordered, bending the metal wall around the attacker so it encased him like a cocoon. Charles released his hold on his mind.
"Ugh, let me go freak!" the intruder cried out, angrily. "I'll kill you all!" This could be a problem. Charles harrumphed beneath his breath. Sean didn't deserve this treatment. He had just saved the blasted world.
"Professor?" Sean mumbled dizzily, as he leaned on Erik.
I'm here, Sean. You'll be alright. Erik will bring you here, and Moira will patch you up, because if this had happened to Sean there was nothing stopping it from happening to them all. He saw the same thought in Erik's head as he steered Sean from the room towards him.
Charles relaxed into his bed, sweat lining his brow. Usually, that feat would be nothing for him. He had done much more, but as weak as he was… He stilled his throbbing headache with a mental shove of willpower before opening his eyes. A moment later, Erik walked Sean into the room and gently helped him sit. The poor boy was still hyperventilating, his eyes wide as he shakily allowed Erik to seat him.
Charles laid a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you Erik," he said as Sean looked to him with frightened eyes. "Could you fetch the others? I'm afraid I can't…" he waved vaguely in the direction of his head. Erik understood the sign and scowling (furious) he stalked from the room to find the others.
"Oh dear," Charles muttered watching him go. He was really going to hear it now. He turned his attention to his young charge. "Now, are you quite alright, Sean?" he asked. Sean nodded slowly.
"Yeah," he tried to smile casually as he ran a hand through his fiery orange hair. "Just jumpy, I guess. Am I bleeding?" He reached up to the gently swelling bump on his forehead.
Charles caught his hand before he could press at the bump. "No," he replied gently. "You're not. Hold still though, he gave you a knock there," Sean nodded and lowered his hand, gazing at Charles with such trust that his heart panged. He squeezed Sean's shoulder again. "You behaved admirably, Sean. You even exerted your power responsibly. I'm proud," Sean smiled at him, eyes sparkling.
"Thanks, Professor. I guess I should thank you, though. If you hadn't frozen that guy when you did, well," Sean shrugged, uncomfortably. "He had a knife, and I'm pretty sure he knew how to use it," Sean shuddered. Charles leaned in.
"I have every confidence that you would have handled yourself, and well. Besides, Erik was on his way the second I heard you were in danger. You're never alone, Sean, remember that. A million miles away," he tapped his temple meaningfully. "You'll still be in here. I'll always know when you need me," the pure smile of gratitude Sean bequeathed him banished his migraine completely.
"Thanks, Prof," Sean quipped. His eyes slid to the door where Erik would come in with the others any moment now. "Erik is going to go on another Mutant superiority rampage, isn't he?" Once again, Charles found himself surprised that night. He hadn't known that Erik gave those lectures to the children as well. He would have to have a word with him about that.
"I'm afraid so," he agreed. Sean nodded sagely, eyes grave, before he suddenly brightened into the impish boy that Charles knew so well.
"Want some ear plugs?" he offered. Charles couldn't help but chuckle, even if it made his shoulder and back ache.
"That is rude and inconsiderate of us, Sean," he scolded. Sean nudged Charles playfully.
"That's a yes, then?"
Charles grinned. "Only if they come in blue," he quipped.
"Why blue?"
"Raven was talking about a mutant state flag last week," had they only been at the mansion a week ago? "She insisted that it be blue. She said it represented loyalty to each other… I think she's going through a vain phase,"
"Isn't she always?"
"Careful there Sean," Charles wagged a finger at him. "That's my sister you're talking about,"
"Sorry Professor, I meant to say, isn't that Alex's job?" Charles could not help but chuckle softly at the jibe. They laughed softly together conspiratorially and once again, Charles was very glad to be alive.
"What happened!?" That was Raven storming into the room, eyes searching every crevice and corner for enemies. Not for the first time, Charles thought that she was very scary when she was worried.
"A guy with a knife tried to knock me out," Sean supplied as the others packed into the room.
"What?" Hank asked, interrupting himself mid yawn to stare incredulously at Sean, more specifically his swelling forehead.
"He was trying to kill you," Erik corrected furiously.
"Dude," Alex turned to Sean, brows furrowed in worry. "You okay?" Charles gestured for Moira to come nearer. She did so, a first aid kit in hand. There was genuine concern in her deep brown eyes as she knelt before Sean, quickly getting out the compression bag. He let her mother hen him tolerantly.
"I'm fine," he assured them. "I screamed at him, Charles froze him and then Erik wrapped him in the wall," he explained the general going on's of the epic battle. Alex's shoulders relaxed a fraction as he walked over and ruffled Sean's wild hair affectionately.
"Awesome," he approved.
"Who was he?" Moira asked, glancing between Charles, Erik and Sean.
"A damned Neanderthal!" Erik fumed. Hank looked reasonably alarmed.
"A caveman attacked you?" he asked Sean.
Sean's dimples showed when he laughed. "Totally. He said 'ugh, fire,' and everything," he told them cheerily. Charles was hard pressed not to laugh. He exchanged a glance with Moira. Her eyes were sparkling.
Alex's eyes twinkled. "Man, you didn't even offer him a banana or a squirrel or anything? Shoot, I would have tried to knock you out too," he snickered.
Hank frowned at the misinformation. "Neanderthals did not eat bananas or squirrels, Alex," he told him knowingly.
"Weren't there coconuts on Cuba? Alex, man, we should have grabbed him a coconut! He already had a knife to pop that bad boy open. I've never had a real coconut before…" Charles cleared his throat loudly, briefly ending the endless conversation of jokes and riddles that Alex and Sean seemed to have concocted as their natural language.
"Sean, as happy as I am to see you acting normal, I'm afraid we have to get the facts here," Sean's smile fell. Charles looked at Hank. "Erik was referring to a human, Hank. Erik, please remember that a human is in the room with us before you spout insults. Now, the man's name is George Albani. He's an engineer on board. I'm afraid he doesn't exactly approve of our presence on the ship, and yes, his intention was to stab you Sean," the boy gulped and nodded.
"This is just what I was telling you Charles!" Erik piped in heatedly. "It's already begun and we haven't even reached shore. The humans won't stop until we're all dead in our beds…" Moira cocked a brow, but said nothing. She was bandaging Sean's head.
Charles pinched the bridge of his nose. "Erik, enough. The actions of one man should not condemn a nation. If humans based us all on the actions of Shaw…"
"Which they will!"
"Which we will strive to make sure they don't, then we'd all be mass murderers, now wouldn't we? Besides, this is not about human/mutant relations yet. This is about the man you melded into a wall. What are we going to do about him?" Erik's eyes sparked with viciousness.
"We could send a message and end this now. We will not be intimidated," he growled. Charles scowled.
"Bad message," he decided instantly. "Moira?"
"What do you mean a message, Erik?" Raven piped in before Moira could speak. She was staring at Erik, a strange light in her eyes that Charles had never seen before.
Erik crossed his arms. "I mean that people will only do what we allow them. If we allow this man to go free despite what he's done, others will do it. We can't just stand here and let that happen. We have to send a clear message now," he asserted.
"By doing what?" Alex asked hesitantly. Erik tipped his chin.
"We will put him in the brig ourselves, and make sure he knows that a knife won't have been enough to protect him," the details of what he meant went unspoken but not unknown. Charles shuddered. This was the side of his friend that Shaw had built, the monster behind the man…
"So you want to abuse a man and play judge and jury on a ship that isn't yours, because you can?" Hank specified, pushing his glasses up. He narrowed his eyes. "That sounds like bullying to me, Erik," he said. Well, at least someone has sense, Charles thought triumphantly.
Erik was persistent. "It's what has to be done to defend ourselves!" He hissed.
"That's what I did," Sean pointed out. "We used our powers to restrain him. He's not a threat to us anymore. Why do we need to do anything else?" Charles sat back and enjoyed the show. Finally, it wasn't just him arguing with Erik anymore.
Raven stepped up to Erik's side. "Because it will happen again if we don't," she spoke up, and Charles felt as if someone had punched him the gut. What was she doing? Erik cocked a brow at her, looking a bit surprised himself. "Erik is right; we can't just let this go. If we want to be treated fairly, we're going to have to fight for that right," her yellow eyes flashed. "Especially if we come out of hiding, and I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of hiding," The men in the room opened their mouths to argue, but before they could Moira broke in.
"Alright, I'm choosing not to be offended by the fact that I risked my life to help you all, and yet I'm still the bad guy," she announced calmly, effectively silencing them all.
"We aren't talking about humans like you, Moira," Hank hurried to assure her. Moira ignored him, standing and fixing each person in the room with a stern look.
"What I'm wondering is this: whoever said you had to hide? Whoever told you specifically; you have to hide who you are?" That question momentarily stumped all of them. Then, sounding thoughtfully, Raven piped up with a definite answer which made him cringe.
"Charles," all eyes turned to him.
"I never said you had to hide who you were, dear," he pointed out mildly. "Just what you looked like," there was a difference, he had learned. Raven narrowed her eyes at him, and he saw anger whiplash there. I have a bad feeling about this, he thought.
Erik's mind was churning. "What I'd like to know," he said, and his voice was low in danger. "Is why it is you have such a faith that humanity will accept us Charles, and yet you told your sister to hide what she looked like from them," I'd like to know why it is you don't think I could send you into an apoplectic shock with a mere thought right now…
Charles felt annoyance prick beneath his skin. Erik was beginning to push his limits, and he was sure that the metal-bender knew it. "If you'd been listening to my arguments the past however many weeks, Erik," he replied, trying to keep the bite out of his voice. "You would remember that I never denied there would be violence. I never denied that humans would fear us, or hate us. I just said that eventually, they would come to understand us," he reasserted.
Erik snorted. "That's easy to say when you're just like everyone else, when you look like everyone else," Hank's eyes went to the floor. Raven's hands clenched into fists. Sean and Alex looked suitably frightened. Charles felt his tongue burn with all the things he could say but knew he wouldn't.
"Did you suddenly turn blue, Erik?" he wondered sarcastically.
"I don't have too," Erik replied darkly. He pointed to the numbers burned into his arm. "I was branded with a yellow star and told that I was different because of that. Along with thousands of others. We didn't have the choice to hide, Charles. Like Hank and Raven don't have the choice any more to hide. And why should they? Why shouldn't they begin a new era by showing who they are?"
Annoyance had become anger now. "Because they don't want to die," Sean answered in Charles's stead, his eyes flickering between the two of them as if he expected one to explode.
"That is what will happen to hundreds and thousands more if we don't set the stage now, Sean," Raven replied, switching her furiously glowing eyes to Sean and Alex. "How many will have to die before we do something about it? How many people have already been crushed beneath the stress of hiding?" she demanded.
"So that's your justification?" Alex snapped; his own eyes aflame. "For torturing a man and hurting innocent people? You want to set an example? Hank is right. You only say you want to do that because you can. And that's being a bully, picking on the younger kid on the playground,"
"That's what they've done to us!"
"Oh, and I guess it's real moral to just do it back then huh? Be the big, bad tough guy? He pushed me so I'll push him? Walk away Raven. Grow up," this was not going to go well. Moira seemed to agree. She raised her hands pacifically, trying for a soothing tone. But Charles knew that look in his sisters eyes. Oh, no…
"Okay before this gets out of hand…"
"Are you kidding me? Walk away? That's your grown-up solution Alex, run away from your problems? Hide?" She hissed.
"It's not hiding, its being the bigger man!"
"No, it's being too weak to do what needs to be done!"
"Enough," Charles ordered, and to reinforce what he said, he used his telepathy to clamp both mouths shut. Raven and Alex both turned to him, eyes wide with shock.
Erik clapped his hands mockingly. "So that's your solution," he supposed. "Silence all who oppose you. Very democratic, Charles!" Charles sent Erik a death glare.
"Erik so help me, I will clamp your mouth shut too!" Erik drew his shoulders back. His mouth was set into a grave line.
"I've been silenced before, Charles," he heard the sound of bending metal, and felt his heart skip a beat. "Don't try to do it again," now it was Hank raising his hands passively, looking around as if he suspected the world had gone mad. Charles was of the same opinion.
"Alright. It's been a long day, and we're all tired and stressed. Maybe we should pick this back up in the…"
"And what I'd like to know Charles; is what gives you the right to speak on any of this?" Charles released Raven and Alex with a stern look to quell any rebellion. Raven was fairly jumping with her defiance, but she knew better than to try him. He would exhaust himself into unconsciousness before he let her wake the entire ship and beat a man senseless. Alex gritted his teeth tightly, obviously unhappy, but remained silent whether out of respect or self-preservation Charles did not care. That being taken care of, Charles inhaled and exhaled a deep breath before turning back to Erik.
"What?" He was getting too old for this.
Erik still had that predatory look on his face. "Raven and Hank have had to disguise themselves all their lives. I know what it's like to be singled out. Alex and Sean have had to suppress and bury their powers their entire lives. Even Moira," he flung his arm out to indicate the human. "Has faced discrimination because she's a woman. You're the only one in this room who seems to know little but talk much. After all," a slithering, resentful smile.
"You grew up in the lap of luxury, so why should I believe a word of what you say?" Charles stared at Erik, suddenly speechless. It was not exactly what Erik said that disturbed him but rather that Charles had never thought of it that way. None of it was true of course, but the way Erik made it sound… he supposed it was very hypocritical.
"I have a reason," once again, he was surprised in a single night. All eyes, smoldering, went to Moira, who stood at Charles's side as if she fancied herself his personal bodyguard. "How about this? The man you just insulted jumped in front of a bullet for you," Erik's eyes wavered.
"I wonder why," Alex muttered.
"And if that doesn't strike you as pertinent," Moira was nearly trembling with outrage. Charles laid a hand on her arm to calm her. It didn't work. "Then take into consideration that you would not have found Shaw if Charles hadn't offered up his lap of luxury money to get you here. It seems you," her eyes switched from Erik to Raven. "Love to take and blame. I suggest you work on giving and listening," she said.
Moira, Charles said, quieting her with gentle press against her mind. Thank you for your support but I believe they understand. Moira turned her smoldering brown eyes to him. He stared back, and they had a moment of understanding before Moira just let a long breath whoosh from her lungs. She nodded to his remark.
"I think I'll go let the general know about the man Erik melded into a wall," she announced before huffily stalking out of the room. The door slammed closed behind her with an unambiguous jolt that sent a tingle of pain into Charles's spine. Sean whistled beneath his breath, impressed or scared or both. Charles rubbed his forehead.
Erik was the first to speak. "She's right," he said at last, and he sounded appropriately guilty. "I was out of line. You didn't deserve that. I'm sorry Charles," Charles sighed and gazed back at his friend.
"Always forgiven, my friend," he kissed Raven on the forehead when she came to squeeze his hand in silent apology. "And I'm sorry too. I've lived with my telepathy for so long now; I forget that it gives me a rather unfair advantage. I knew about each of your pasts the second I met you. Albeit, without trying," he hurried to reiterate when he saw Alex and Hank pale.
"But it still isn't fair. I imagine you would wonder why you should trust me," he sighed and closed his eyes. At times, he wished that it were so simple. That he were as hypocritical as they thought.
"We don't think that Charles," Hank hurried to interject, his own eyes full of worry. "We trust you with our lives. You're a good person," mumbles of agreement, sincere but embarrassed, arose from the others. Charles smiled gently.
"I appreciate that Hank, but that does not make it any less right," his heart should not be hammering so.
"I don't know what they would need to see," Raven tried to joke when she saw the nervousness on his face. He had never… Well, he had never opened up to anyone before. As Raven had teased, she had been his only friend for the longest time. He had never wanted nor needed anyone else. And now…Now he had these people whose respect and friendship he wanted. Whose trust he needed for the times ahead, when he was not sure he would be able to stand on his own, literally or metaphorically. "Your life is pretty boring, Charles," he smiled fondly at her.
"Not quite so boring, my dear," his eyes flashed with pain. "Not as boring as I always had you believe," he saw confusion appear in her eyes, and knew that even if he was not ready to reveal it, she was ready to know. She was ready to know the truth of that house.
"Come here, children. Link hands," he extended a hand. Raven grabbed it first, never taking her eyes from him. Charles smiled reassuringly, even if his heart was hammering and his palms were sweaty.
"What are we doing?" Sean asked as he grabbed Raven's hand. Alex grabbed his and Hank slipped his hands into the circle. Erik stood on the other side of him and grabbed his own palm.
"I'm too weak to directly transmit into your minds," Charles explained begrudgingly. "And touch helps the connection," his explanation had little effect. He received only blank stares in reply.
Finally, Erik caught on. "We're going to see your past the way you see ours," he gasped. Charles nodded and could not help but chuckle a bit.
"Admittedly, when I see them they are in fragments and considerably more gentle than I'll have to be. My brain naturally picks up floating thoughts. Your minds will be less cooperative, I imagine," he said.
"Have you done this before?" Sean asked nervously. Charles could only snicker.
"What do you think I'm doing whenever I use telepathy to speak to you, my friend? Now close your eyes and relax. I will not hurt you," he hoped he would not at any rate.
"Charles," Erik said softly while the others closed their eyes. His eyes were limpid with understanding, and trust. "You know you don't have to do this. Whatever secrets you know about us, you know through circumstance and we trust you with them. You don't owe us anything," he told him, and Charles felt himself relax a bit at the pure sincerity in Erik's voice. The man was a hot head, but he had a good heart, one which always seemed to know what to say to calm Charles.
"Oh, but I do my friend. I owe you the same trust you all have bestowed upon me. Now, close your eyes," Erik gave a half smile and obeyed, relaxing as he did so. Charles inhaled a deep breath, hoping he had enough energy to do this, and recalled the years of his childhood. The nightmare he had been hoping to leave behind.
"I was nine years old," he began softly, as he expanded his mind into a large bubble, encasing the psyches in the room within. "When I first began hearing voices in my head. The world was a very different place back then…"