Three days later:
Charles was woken by the sound of Kitty screaming.
Charles had never slept as deeply as he did when he returned home from California. The constant stress of being on the go for so long-what felt like eternities- facing prejudice and scorn like no other, made him emotionally as well as physically exhausted. He had never been so glad to see his dusty room.
He needed this break, which was why when Moira, Hank and he had returned to New York in the wee hours of the morning, they had all collapsed into bed with clothes on. It was only now, two days after their return; that they finally woke up.
Kitty's screams were rather loud. Charles did not open his eyes when the sound tore through the fog of slumber that had encased him for the past two days, like a warm and safe cocoon. He lay there in his soft, warm bed for an inestimable amount of time, merely breathing and allowing his tired muscles to relax. His arms ached from wheeling himself around so much, and his throat was sore from speaking. His head had been pounding last he knew, but it was quiet now.
Someone had opened his window for him while he slept. A cool breeze flew in, smelling of barbeque and sea water. His stomach gurgled. Golden morning sunshine was resting on his face like an old friend, softly caressing his curls and lulling him back to sleep.
Downstairs, Charles could hear laughing, rustling, preparations for a new day. The smell of pancakes and sausage wafted to his nose, making his growling stomach protest louder. He ignored it, determined to enjoy his peace a bit longer. His mind picked up several others, searched through the house for Kitty. A smile tugged at his mouth when he felt Hank downstairs, glowing with happiness as he snatched Kitty up in a large bear hug before commencing to tickle her silly.
"Teddy bear!" Kitty shrieked in delight, wiggling in his grip. "S-stop it!" She giggled.
Charles did not fight the chuckle that made it past his lips. Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open. His eyesight was blurry. He rubbed the sleep from them, then gave an abrupt start when he saw another being sitting at the edge of his bed, giving him an amused look.
After so long, it took Charles a moment for the name to come to mind. When it did, his grin was one of pure pleasure. "Erik!" he cried.
Said man smiled. He looked older, more weary and time-worn, but the old fierceness in his eyes had not abated any. He stretched out a hand to help Charles sit up, which the telepath took gratefully. "Guten Morgen mien bruder," he replied in German as Charles sat up and promptly clapped him on the shoulder in greeting, hands still clasped tightly. It had been nearly three months since they had seen each other. "I heard you're a national icon," Erik continued.
Charles blushed and looked down, just now noticing that someone had undressed him while he was asleep too, replacing his rumpled suit with his normal robe and pajama bottoms. He blushed all the more. He really hoped it had been Alex or Sean to do it. He decided not to ask, just in case it hadn't been. "Accidentally," he replied. Erik crossed his arms sternly. Charles had a feeling he was in for a lecture.
"And were you going to tell me about this plan, Charles?" he demanded.
"No," Charles answered promptly. "Probably not for the reason you think, though. I only came up with the idea when Moira came to visit, after you'd all left. Speaking of which, how are you? Nothing broken? When did you get back?" he skimmed Erik's memory loosely, wondering if there was some minor thing he may have forgotten but his mind stored away.
"I'm fine," Erik replied. "Everyone is fine, nothing broken. We've been lucky to escape our adventures with nothing more than minor bruises…"
"Raven?"
"Not a scratch, as promised," Charles smiled benignly.
"Thank you Erik," the other mutant nodded and pulled his legs up onto Charles's bed, crossing them beneath him with the moves of a man who had been there for quite awhile. Charles wondered why he had been watching him.
"We got here a day after you, actually. We slept all day too, but you…" Charles shrugged sheepishly. Admittedly, he had not been getting much sleep before coming to the mansion anyway. The curse of having a mind which refused to shut off… and also one which sensed assassination attempts in progress and moved-that moment-to stop them. Moira had needed her rest, and besides, he wasn't completely helpless.
"How long have you been in my room?" He asked. Now it was Erik's turn to look sheepish.
"Um…" he rubbed the back of his neck, cringing. "Since last night," Charles cocked an eyebrow.
"Why?" he inquired.
"Because… I wanted to make sure you woke up," he sounded so plaintively awkward about it that Charles broke out laughing. It was good to be home.
"Did you suppose an assassin would come in here and do away with me in the night?" Charles asked with a laugh. Erik crossed his arms grumpily.
"It is possible. Being a CIA public nuisance and all that," he pointed out, cheeks reddening. Charles found this most amusing too. So amusing that he laughed for a very long time, until Erik's glare snapped him out of his mirth.
"Oh, Erik," Charles snickered, unimpressed by the glare. "I've missed you. Don't be ashamed to have a heart my friend," he scolded good-naturedly.
"If I have one, I wish someone would have told me about it," Erik retorted dryly.
"Hasn't Emma told you yet?" Charles inquired innocently enough. Erik's glare was a very eloquent answer. Charles smirked. "How is she, by the way?" he persisted.
"Fine," Erik replied tightly. "She's my second-in-command,"
Charles's eyes grew wide. "Oohh," he gasped.
"You never change, do you Charles? Anyway, I was at your speech in California. You did well. There seems to be a lot of support for the Mutant Movement there," Charles merely nodded tiredly, his grin dropping. He did not wish to discuss politics or movements or anything at that moment. He just wanted to be happy to be home, and free to be free.
"More than in other places," he accepted calmly.
Erik studied him for a long span of a second before murmuring, almost as if he didn't want Charles to hear: "You've changed," Charles blinked, taken aback.
"My hair is longer," he admitted, thinking Erik meant that. His mind told him something different though, but Erik did not elaborate, he only stood to his feet and summoned Charles's wheelchair with a wave of his hand.
"Breakfast is waiting. Hurry up," he called over his shoulder, aware that Charles could get out of bed himself. The telepath was grateful for the show of faith. Too many people had gazed at him with pity lately for his liking. It was Independence Day, and he intended to be independent of any outside interferences. He could get around perfectly well by himself, thank you very much.
Finches chirped and sang outside. Another fresh breeze ruffled his long hair, and Charles grinned. It was so good to be home.
"Beast, dude, I know how to flip a burger."
"Then why aren't you doing it right?"
"You know what, bozo? Go back to your formulas. I'm doing real man's work here,"
"You are flipping a meat patty at an incorrect angle. How is that man's work?"
"Charles, why didn't you leave Einstein here in California?!"
Cassidy, Raven, Moira and Emma snickered as the four women listened to the bickering of Alex and Hank at the barbeque grill. The darkening sky was already littered with fireworks, the colorful displays lighting the sky. The entirety of their house was seated in the backyard of the mansion, lit by the fireworks and setting sun. Dragonflies and squirrels dove amongst the flowers, chattering.
The air smelled of barbeque and smoke from fireworks, it was strangely soothing. Strewn across the yard were lawn chairs and small outdoor tables covered with sweets and junk food.
It was the only time they were going to be allowed to eat it all at once, Cassidy had already warned the little ones, so she was not surprised to see Kitty sneaking a fourth cookie from the table. It was alright. Charles could put her to sleep tonight.
Sean and Riptide were setting up their own fireworks, also arguing over the best way to place this one and that. Azazel and Wolverine were telling Jean, Bobby and Scott about their adventures in Ethiopia. Michael and Azazel were playing volleyball with Ororo, Rogue and Warren. Charles and Erik were over in the corner, playing a very concentrated game of chess while sipping iced tea.
"It is good to have you guys back," Cassidy told her friends sincerely, as she sipped the fruit punch in her hand. "Being a woman in a house full of men? Not easy," she told them.
"Been there, done that," Raven drawled in a world weary-manner from where she laid out on the reclining lawn chair, ankles crossed. "Wanted to kill them in a week. You, girlfriend," she raised her glass in a salute. "Have the patience of an angel," they chuckled.
"All except for Hank, right?" Emma inquired impishly. The bitter gleam in her eyes had been expunged by wherever they had been, leaving only a keen teasing there. Cassidy thought she looked even more beautiful that way.
Raven snorted. "I wanted to kill him the most. He's seconded only by Charles," she informed Emma.
"And Emma," Moira broke in, stirring her iced tea with her straw languorously. "I'll have you know that Charles has you and Erik's wedding all planned out. Like, he started asking for wedding planners and everything," Emma's face burned a beet red, prompting the rest of them to snicker and whoop mischievously. Cassidy grinned, glad that Moira was not excluded from the talk because she was human.
"Charles is an idiot," Emma replied staunchly.
"But he's right," Raven pointed out. "Erik has his eyes on you too," as if he knew that they were talking about him, Erik looked up and narrowed his eyes at the row of reclining women.
"What are you four talking about over there?" he demanded. Cassidy opened her mouth to inform him that it was none of his beeswax when Raven broke in.
"We're planning to assassinate you two and collect the award money!" She called, seriously. "How much are you worth, Erik?" The metal-bender did not seem disturbed by this proclamation. He shrugged and looked down at the chessboard, planning his next move. Cassidy saw Emma studying him from the corner of her eye, eyes scanning his graceful body with a predator's gaze.
"Not as much as Professor X over here," he replied, moving his piece before sitting back with a smug look on his face, Charles snorted.
"Oh come now, Erik. I'm sure that the Russians would pay a good price for you."
"You think so?"
"Well, you did invade their leader's temporary stronghold and knocked out their guards," he pointed out.
"Hey!" Emma snapped out of her reverie. "I did that!"
"Yes, but you were inconspicuous about it, darling," Charles reminded her.
"True enough," Erik accepted calmly when Charles responded with a clever countermove. "What about you, Charles? How much can they get off your hide?" He inquired. Charles stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I don't know. It depends upon who they turn me into, really. I imagine England would pay a decent sum. The CIA wouldn't pay much; they're tight on money right now. Haven't you heard? It's why they can't afford to put a bullet in my brain," his morbid sense of humor was quite disturbing, but Erik only chuckled.
"Economies bad," he grunted.
"Indeed. Sorry girls, I don't believe you'll get much off us," Charles called over apologetically.
"Enough for a manicure is fine with us, Charlie," Raven replied, assuring him. The women burst into laughter when Charles gave them a dry look before retuning back to their game, both men momentarily satisfied that they had deduced what the women were discussing. Cassidy stirred her punch with one finger. She glanced over. Hank and Alex had managed to agree on the correct way to flip a burger by now and were congratulating each other on the success.
"So, how bad was it in D.C?" Emma was asking Moira. "Did you meet much prejudice?" Moira shrugged, eyes downcast.
"More of… Ignorance. They spoke of mutants as you would talk about animals. Trying to put on a front of humanity, but really just trying to get rid of the problem as fast as possible. I was more than glad to leave that place," she shivered, then turned back to Emma and Raven.
"We saw you two on the news, saving those people in France. That was very brave," she complimented them.
Emma shrugged modestly. Raven grinned. "All in a day's work," she chirped.
"Maybe," Emma yawned. "But it does get… Overwhelming after awhile. Seeing all the pain and cruelty that we have, I mean. Those children in Africa, being sold like cattle… It was horrendous," she said.
"Imagine what they would do to mutants," Raven added knowingly. Cassidy glanced at Moira, who looked quite dour, before quickly changing the subject. Sometimes Raven was as thoughtlessly cruel as Erik.
"I feel so useless here sometimes," She admitted to the others. "Staying inside like a good housewife while you all are out there saving the world," she said. Emma looked at her with compassionate eyes, setting a gentle hand on her arm.
"Honey, you are saving the world," she told her seriously. "You're saving the future of this world. Do you see how happy those kids are? You've been a big part of that. Your work is no less important than ours," she told her with such candid frankness that Angel felt tears sting her eyes. She smiled tremulously.
"Thanks guys," she said.
"You know what we should do tomorrow?" Raven asked. "We should go out, to a restaurant or shopping or something. Have a girl's day," she offered, looking every bit like a young girl begging her mother for a new dress.
"All four of us," Cassidy added when Moira looked unsure. The human smiled at her gratefully.
"We'll steal the Blackbird," Emma planned, studying her leg lazily. "Leave the men here to their own devices. I know this amazing place to get smoothies down in Chile. Then we can just lounge on the beach. The water is so blue it shimmers," she told them.
"I've always wanted to see the old Inca cities," Moira dreamed aloud. "Wouldn't that be a great place to sip smoothies?" She joked. The others tittered, though the suggestion floated temptingly in their air. They were mutants, after all. And it was Charles's money. Who said they had to do anything normally?
Cassidy sighed in longing. She had never been on a vacation before. Her parents had not been able to afford any such thing. She wondered where they were now, whether they would be proud of the life that she had chosen. Then again, she figured they probably would not be much impressed with her at all, being as how she had turned to a life of stripping.
She wasn't very impressed with herself for it either.
"Moira," she said suddenly as the others went on discussing vacation time. "What did your parents say about you being in the CIA?" She asked. Moira let out a quick guffaw of laughter.
"My parents?" She squawked. "My parents think I'm a disrespectful, irresponsible youngling who doesn't know what she's doing," she sounded a bit proud at these explanatives.
"Why?" Raven asked, surprised. Moira rolled her eyes.
"Because of the three rules of womanhood: docility, chastity, and faithfulness. All of these are supposed to be towards a man. Women have their roles, men have theirs. That's the way my parents believe it's supposed to be," she stated with a dismissive wave of her hand. "My being in the CIA instead of in the kitchen bothers them. And now that I've started standing for mutants?" she shook her finger firmly at them. "No, no," she clucked.
"I'm guessing they aren't fans of us?" Raven inquired.
Moira leaned back and pressed a hand to her forehead, as if checking for a fever in light of talking about her parents. "Said nicely," she retorted dryly. "What about you, Emma? Where are your parents?"
Emma smiled sadly. "My mother died of Cancer when I was twelve, and my father kicked me out the second I turned eighteen. I don't know where he is now," she replied with a half shrug that hid emotions that went deeper. Since they were taking turns. "Raven?"
Raven stared into her cup as if there were something fascinating inside besides soda. Anger flashed in her eyes. "They abandoned me when I was young. I don't remember them, really," she said. "All I've ever known is Charles and the mansion," she waved her hand towards the giant structure, which looked like a menacing prison as the sun finally deserted them for the night.
Cassidy shivered. The distant sound of fireworks boomed across the sky. Flashes of multi-colored lights bathed them in luminance. "I'd have loved to live in this mansion," she muttered. "My parents were poor. They were mutants. Our landlord found out and threatened to tell everyone if we didn't give into his demands, or, rather, if my mom didn't," the implications went unsaid.
"I always hated them for being so weak, for just giving in instead of using their powers to fight back. I always hated them because they couldn't protect me, so when I was sixteen I left and went about finding my own way," and she regretted it with every bone in her body.
Her parents had been sickly, frail. Her mother especially, after years of abuse by the hands of their landlord. Her own words echoed in her mind.
"We don't belong here, and that is nothing to be ashamed of," that was the attitude of her former self, bitter and desperate to find a family that would fight back. Now that she had one, she could not help but be ashamed at her old selfishness, her narrow-sighted views. Her parents had deserved better, they had deserved more from her. They deserved a better daughter than she was.
Raven sighed, heavily. "I really need a vacation now," she whispered with a lonesome and agonized look at the house towering above them. Cassidy turned to stare at her, along with Emma and Moira, for a long span of time. Then, all four women broke into laughter. They all needed a vacation now.
Suddenly, Sean jumped to his feet in the middle of the yard, his orange hair striking in the light of fireworks. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls!" He called, silencing the stories and halting the volleyball game. Erik and Charles looked up from their game inquisitively.
All eyes turned to him. Sean gestured to the large pile of explosives behind him, all tangled and curled together like forest vines. Cassidy crossed her arms. This should be good, she thought as she and Moira gave each other similar looks. "Thanks to my staunch efforts…!"
"Hey!"
"Okay, the staunch efforts of myself and my sidekick Riptide over here, we have configured a firework show of magnificent proportions. Are you ready?"
"Yeah!" The children shouted in unison, faces brightening as they fairly skipped over to where Sean and Riptide were, gazing over the mess of fireworks.
"What is it going to look like?" Ororo asked, this being the first time she ever saw fireworks.
Sean put his hands on his hips heroically. "Like awesome-ness!" he told them. Cassidy sighed and stood, heading over with the girls to the knot of people gathering. Logan, Hank, Alex, Azazel and Michael stood behind the children, examining the bulk of explosives with wary eyes that said, quite clearly, we're so gonna die.
Charles and Erik came slower. Kitty launched herself into Charles's lap, scrambling up unfeeling legs to grip the front of his shirt tightly.
"Fessor, we're gonna do fireworks!" she cried, jabbing a finger at the sky, where several more explosions rocked the atmosphere. Charles looked worried as he waited for Kitty to get comfortable in his lap.
"Are you quite sure that's safe?" He asked Sean, who shrugged.
"Not really," at least he was honest. Riptide clapped a hand over his mouth from behind hurriedly.
"Don't worry about it! It's fine!" He assured Charles, in a more cheerful fashion. The telepath cocked an eyebrow at him dubiously.
"You're the one who bought them, Chuck," Logan pointed out.
"I didn't know we were going to set them off at the same time," Charles protested.
"What's the worst that could happen?" Sean asked with a flippant wave of his hand.
"The house could catch on fire?" Emma offered sarcastically.
"Instant combustion!" Warren laughed delightedly.
"BOOM!" Scott, Kitty and Bobby exclaimed in unison, describing their near future.
Sean put on his best hurt face as he turned to his partner in crime. "They have no faith is us, Riptide," he pouted. Riptide gave Sean a very distinct 'no, they have no faith in you,' look, but before he could think of something to say a thoughtful expression overtook his face. He glanced around, as if searching their faces for trickery, before announcing in a quiet voice.
"My name is Alejandro," Cassidy turned to him, shocked that the normally quiet and intense mutant would actually…Divulge something like that. The others looked just as shocked, all except for Emma and Charles, both of whom only gave each other knowing looks.
"Well," Charles interrupted the eloquent silence that followed this declaration. "Does anyone else want to announce some secret name? Or confess? I know someone's been in the candy," this was directed at Jean, Ororo and Kitty. The three girls grinned unapologetically.
Azazel's quiet voice broke into the fray. "Ivan," he introduced himself. "My name was once Ivan," if at all possible, Cassidy was even more shocked by his admittance than Ri-Alejandro's. This day is just full of surprises.
She supposed that was what one got in a family like theirs.
"Now can we set off fireworks?" Sean demanded impatiently, briefly clapping Alejandro on the back encouragingly. Charles narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Erik chuckled softly.
"Stop worrying, old friend. Everyone back up," he cautioned, waving the children away from the mass. Cassidy felt a warm body appear behind her and turned to see Alex standing at her side. She smiled at him. He smiled back, the sharp angles of his face bright with the exploding sky. Something about his gaze made her blush; and she felt her face heat up even more when he slipped his hand into hers.
"Watch the fireworks with me?" he asked softly. Cassidy did not hesitate to nod. Alex smiled and tugged her away from the fireworks. Sean and Riptide arrived with match boxes.
Cassidy looked down the line of people at her side, attempting to look composed but secretly shuffling with anticipation. The children were squealing and giggling excitedly, almost hopping from foot to foot. Kitty sat in Charles's lap, and the telepath was whispering something to her that made her giggle.
Raven and Hank stood side by side, so close that she knew they could hear each other breathing. Suddenly, as if it had never occurred to him before, Hank hesitantly reached out and swiped a strand of Raven's hair behind her ear, exposing a face that many might call ugly, but Cassidy considered exquisite. It was the face of her sister, after all. That was probably why she was so pleased when Raven looked up, and met Hank's eyes. They smiled at one another tentatively.
Emma had snuck up to Erik. The two leaders stood side by side, and Emma's golden hair gently stirred into Erik's face. The metal bender gently swept it away. Emma appeared to apologize, but Erik only shrugged and took something from his pocket. Cassidy knew it was metal because one second it was a small ball of shining silver, then next it had been made into a hair clip, complete with a delicate wasp sitting atop it. Emma blushed as he offered the small gift valiantly. She clipped it into her hair as if it were a prized jewel.
Michael and Moira were standing with arms crossed, laughing about Sean's attempts to light the pile. Suddenly, Michael said something that made Moira swat his chest playfully. He grabbed her hand gently, before it could slip away and pressed it against his heart as if it had been instinct. When they met eyes, he coughed with embarrassment and let go. Moira looked down at her hand as if it had turned into gold upon being touched.
Finally, her eyes landed on Charles and as she met his sapphire, secretive eyes, he winked.
She shook her head. Only you, Charles. He dipped his head in a tiny bow before turning his eyes to the sky just as Sean and Riptide scrambled out of the way of now armed explosives. "Bombs away!" Sean yelled, momentarily stopping her heart at the choice of words before the air shattered with screaming fire. The fireworks all soared into the air at the same time, burning and whirling so fast that their existence was a mere blur for a moment.
Then, they exploded.
"Wow!" Bobby whooped as every color imaginable was suddenly splashed against the backdrop of stars and velvety darkness-like an artist's splattering abstract against a black canvas. Magenta, emerald, azure, pearl and gold flashed in the air above, letting out fizzling hisses as the chemicals met the elements of oxygen and floated as embers to the ground.
"Awesome!" Scott cheered. Warren did a back-flip in mid air, his wings stretched wide as a hawk's. For once forgetting her powers-forgetting to fear-Rogue grabbed Ororo in a tight hug of enjoyment, eyes wide with delight. Thanks to her gloves, Ororo only hugged her back, safe and sound. Jean and Bobby applauded and whistled. Erik placed a hand on Emma's shoulder. For once, his eyes were wide with childish awe. Charles laughed as Kitty almost fell from his lap in amazement.
Sean and Alejandro exchanged celebratory high-fives. Cassidy felt a weight on her chest lift as she watched the sky explode with light-and wondered if perhaps they could find another way to banish night after all. Whatever night it may be. After all, a bunch of colonists had found freedom in a world that denied its existence for people like them, why couldn't the mutants do the same?
Why weren't they the same?
"One day, we will celebrate a Mutant Equality Day," she told Alex softly. He nodded, eyes on the show above, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Cassidy laid her head against his chest-listening to a strong heartbeat beneath her ears. She pretended not to notice when Alex kissed the top of her head affectionately and whispered:
"One day."