If it Comes back to You(it's yours forever) by Nehan Shinzui
a/n: er. this chapter came to me first, but I wanted to get the other one done before this. don't know why, it just seems like it would flow better. Thank you guys, so much for reading! Don't forget to review. :)
v.
Staying here is making Charles nervous, but he knows he mustn't complain because Erik has told him it isn't safe. His memory remains foggy and blank, but the pain is a lighthouse in a dark ocean. Still, he can't help wishing that he could go out at least once. The mirrors continue to disturb him, there cold surfaces reflecting every object in the room, splitting his life into monchrome kaleidescopes. Charles wants to feel the cool air on his face again, look at his garden, maybe even see the ocean one last time...
God. He is getting awfully romantic isn't he?
...
Erik has been able to expand the room's features so that he will be more comfortable, maybe give him some semblance of normality. But, while that is all very lovely and he can't thank Erik enough for that, it's becoming painfully obvious that they-well, he-won't be able to leave here for what will probably be years. He can't face that. However, he has come to depend on his dear friend, has come to physically need his presence. How easily this has happened he finds quite odd, but he soon finds that he is growing to like being taken care of, to like being coddled and held. He feels as though a great weight has been thrust off his shoulders. And if Erik is happy with that, then so is he.
...
He brings it up one day after Erik has returned from one of his excursions, bringing fresher foods. Gently setting his book(he's read it several times through) he turns to him, flinching as he sees the metal helmet still firmly attached to his head. For some reason, he kept expecting his lover to take it off, at least once.
"Erik." he states and the man reaches him, with a smile giving him a peck on his cheek, asking him what it is, and it's a gesture so domestic Charles almost laughs.
But he knows he shouldn't.
"Erik...do you think, maybe things have changed outside?"
The man's face, so recently one of loving tenderness suddenly becomes blank, and the telepath knows he must've said the wrong thing.
"It's just...there must be a world out there still worth living in. Surely, someone must've been aware of what was happening and measures must've been taken. We've been here an awfully long time haven't we?"
"Nearly a year now." Erik says tonelessly and Charles latches on to that bit of information, cataloging it.
"Yes, certainly the radiation isn't still-"
"You remain as ever, optimistic, Charles." he cuts across him, his hands leaving his. "But I'm afraid you are gravely mistaken. The world you once knew has changed in ways you couldn't possibly imagine."
Charles opens his mouth to speak, but Erik interrupts him once again.
"Is it not enough that I at least, took some precautions to protect you? Do you honesty believe that the humans would not take this as some side in their favor, some supernatural act, that proves that everything they thought about us was true, that some God has been sent to punish us? Is it not good enough that I've done something, to protect at least one of you? Does that not satisfy you enough?"
His friend is visibly shaking as he says this, and Charles wonders if this is indeed what they believe. Intuition tells them they must've had this argument before, and Charles has neither the strength nor the heart, to try and counter that point. But still...
"Well...at least...I mean...there's no way for the radiation to get in here is there?" He forces a smile. "Certainly you could take off that silly thing can't you?"
"Exposure to my thought patterns after this time, will lead you to react in such a way similar to what brought the others into a state worse than what brought you here. My thoughts will literally destroy you, love. That is why I must keep it on."
This shuts him up. His face crumples slightly and he slumps backwards into the wall, his head sliding against the cool glass, and he shudders, as he sees the reflections of the walls, the two of them, the bed, the bookshelf...before he closes his eyes in a defeated way. "Yes. Yes, of course love, you're right." his voices cracks a bit.
He feels Erik's pressure next to him, and a warm hand is pressed against his face. "Everything I do...it's only to protect you, you know that?"
"Yes, Erik. I know."
...
When Erik leaves the room later, after he knows Charles has fallen asleep, he makes sure to keep this particular conversation in mind. He's starting to ask questions, he doesn't want to answer. Asking questions he doesn't know how to answer.
As the mutant walks down the hall, he knows he must figure out some way to deal with this. Opening the second door, and closing it firmly behind him, he steps outside and removes the helmet.
...
Charles had been partly right when he said there must've been people that cottoned on to the event and were trying to take steps to deal with the problem. The lab he steps into now, is buzzing with men in lab coats, the collars around their necks hidden by stiff-pressed collars and pocket protectors and keychains. Noticing that he has entered the building, they act as if they are working twice as hard, their eyes purposefully avoiding his. He ignores them, heading instead to the place he knows will give him the information he needs.
He enters the smaller, more private lab and spys his target hunched over a computer, typing away hastily, one hand clutching a pen, that's scribbling away on a clipboard.
Dr. Adler has been one of the top people working on precisely what Charles has been talking about.
The Plague's effects have been remarkably brief, Adler tells him without looking up.
"Already the radiation is slowly beginning to recede. It appears to have done what it's come to do anyway."
He clicks away. Erik shoots at him, And what is that, excatly?
"I guess, to scare the living shit out of us. Theories are endless. But my headaches have receded and my neural systems are apparently coming back in full force. But, as of yet, I've made no signifigant breakthoughs."
They communicate silently for a while, but Erik's mind remains in a fog.
...
Before each and every meal, he stirs the concoction into his food, just a bit so it can appear gradual.
...
Soon, Charles begins to feel spontaneous headaches. It's been so long since he's felt this way, the pain is increased exponentially and he is left almost entirely paralyzed now, and he shudders against the bed, his temperature escalating.
ohmygodwhereami whereserikpleasehelpme
He's nearly incoherent as he writhes against him, his breathing harsh, and scattered.
...
Erik eventually slips him some medicine of course. He would never try to actually kill Charles.
But it is safe here.
And he can't have him begin to think otherwise.
...
a/n: sorry if this seems a bit rushed! but i do hope you liked it! and feel free to give me any corrections you deem necessary, constructive critcisms, etc. And also, I'm thinking of starting to look for an editor or beta or something that can offer suggestions, and help? *sheepish grin*
thanks for reading and reviewing!