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“Are you sure about this?” Erik asks again, Raven sighs, “No, but he’s our best option in finding him before they do.” They’re sitting outside the gates of the school.
Erik feels the metal, knows he could open them easily. “He won’t be happy to see us.” Raven nods, “Maybe not at first, but he’ll help.”
They had been gone about a year, searching for mutants in need, saving them from dangerous situations or people using them for profit, sending them somewhere safe.
They were working with a different group of mutants, their original group had been hunted down by an organization or by a man in charge of the organization. Trask, they think his name is.
They would find out what mutant he was going after next and try to get there before him. His current target was apparently someone who could change their eyes, able to gain the vision of any creature they wanted.
He had been on the run for a long time and realized people were after him. He went into hiding, but they knew it was only a matter of time before he was found.
They agreed on their next best option, they knew Cerebro could find any mutant. So they drove three days, not wanting to fly and leave a paper trail for Trask, they know he’s noticed them.
Finally, Erik pulls to the gates, and they open automatically. The road leading to the house, or mansion rather, feels longer than it did before.
People are mingling about, young adults and kids. They park and head to the door, walking inside. A teenager stops in front of them. “Hi.”
Raven smiles, “Hi, we’re looking for the Professor.” He nods as if he was expecting it, “He’s in his office upstairs. You need me to take you?”
Erik shakes his head. “We’ll find it, thanks.” The kid nods and then runs off. In truth, they already know the way, Raven knowing exactly what room Charles would use for his office.
They pause at the door before they knock, hearing a familiar voice invite them in.
When they enter the office, he’s at his desk, they’re shocked to see his hair to his shoulders and a beard adorning his face. He looks exhausted, a slump to his shoulders they had never seen before.
He looks up, surprise crossing his face before it turns to anger. They expected that. “What are you doing here?”
“We need your help.” Charles picks up a nearby glass and takes a drink. “That’s rich.”
Raven crosses her arms, “Are you really going to be like this just because we left?” He slams the glass down. “Yes. Yes, I am.” She scoffs, and he glares harder. “You need my help? Well, I needed your help, and you weren’t here.”
She rolls her eyes, “You can run this place yourself.” He stares for a minute. “You don’t know.” His voice is quiet. She looks between them, but Erik is just as confused. “Know what?”
Charles sighs deeply, moving to get up. To their surprise and horror, he doesn’t stand but instead wheels himself around the desk. They both gasp.
Raven has tears in her eyes. “Charles, we had no idea.” He still looks angry. “No, you didn’t. Because you left.” Anger crosses her face. “You told me to.”
He throws his hands up, “Of course I did! Because it was what you wanted! It didn’t mean I was okay with it! I was terrified, in pain, and I wanted nothing more than to beg you to stay, but I knew you’d be unhappy.”
Her eyes widen, and her mouth opens and closes. “You were gonna be okay, Hank,” He cuts her off, “Hank is not you. It was just the two of us for so long, you were my sister, and I needed you.”
Erik shakes his head. “That’s not fair.” Charles’s gaze turns to him, “Oh? Says the guy who put the bullet there.” He winces, and Raven gasps. “Charles! It wasn’t his fault! It was an accident.”
Charles scoffs, “An accident that could have been prevented. It doesn’t take away what happened, don’t I have a right to be upset about it?”
Erik holds his hands out, “Okay, we understand. You do. But we need your help finding a mutant in trouble.”
Charles shakes his head. “You’ve been fine on your own thus far, I doubt you need me. You have your little group.”
They pause, “They’re gone.” He looks at Erik, “They were hunted down and taken, we’re trying to protect the mutants they’re going after now.”
Charles shakes his head again, Erik takes a step forward, he knows Charles is close to bursting, he can recognize the emotions bubbling right under the surface. “We did what we thought was best then.”
That does it, his head snaps up, and they feel anger surround them.
“What was best? It was best to leave me injured on that beach? Leave me alone to deal with it all? While you were out doing god knows what, I was in the hospital, hearing the doctors tell me they were unsure, but in their minds, they knew I would never walk again.” Raven covers her mouth, trying not to sob.
“I was in therapy, physical, emotional, trying to strengthen my arms, make sure my back didn’t get worse, I was trying to cope with losing my legs, with the constant pain I am in. And I couldn’t even tell them how I could hear everyone around me, could feel their emotions. How I was connected to Shaw when you killed him and felt everything.” Erik’s eyes widen.
“Felt it as if the coin went through my head, how it literally felt like my head was going to split open. How I can’t sleep, if it’s not the pain in my back or my head, it’s voices, someone else’s dreams. I’m in so much pain I can barely stomach anything. The person I grew up with, the only person I had, left me.” Raven’s breath stutters.
“Left me with someone I came to care for deeply. I had promised you I wouldn’t leave you, no matter what happened, then you left me. In the end, we may want the same thing, mutants living in peace, safe and without fear, but I want us to live in harmony with humans, you just want to annihilate them. If you had just listened to me, we could’ve found a better way, but you wanted to blow them up.” Erik looks guilty.
“I know you never meant for that to happen, but it did, and it was your actions that led to it. And now, nearly a year later, you two waltz in and ask for help like you didn’t completely shatter my life that day.”
Raven sniffs, “Charles.”
He continues as if she hadn’t spoken. “I’ve had to relearn how to live. We had to put in an elevator, lower many things, install rails. It’s exhausting to get myself dressed or into bed. I can’t even leave the grounds by myself. I can’t go for a run to clear my head, I can’t stand in the shower and just enjoy it, I can’t go for a drive. I can’t do anything but sit here. I’m in a prison, and there’s no escape, this is my life now.”
Tears are falling down all their faces, Charles didn’t even have to project anything to cause them, but they could feel his anger, his anguish.
“I can’t help you. I’m broken.” A sob breaks the last word, his head falling, shoulders shaking. Raven steps forward. “Charles.”
“Get out.” She takes another step. “Charles, please.” He looks up, eyes full of anger. “I said get out!” They hear him yell out loud, and in their minds, a wave of anger sweeping over them. Raven doesn’t want to, but Erik grabs her arms. “Let’s go.”
She pulls away. “But.” He shakes his head. “Not right now.” She reluctantly leaves, knowing it’s best, giving Charles one last sad look before they both exit the room.
He sits there, head bowed again and shoulders shaking, tears dripping off his nose. He grips his knees hard, his fingers digging into them, but he feels nothing.
It only causes him to sob harder, his arms coming up to hug his torso. He hears the door, but he can’t focus enough to tell whose mind is in the room with him.
To his relief, Hank kneels in front of him. “Professor? Charles?” He takes a shuddery breath, another sob escaping his mouth, he curls in on himself. This had been a long time coming, an inevitable breakdown.
He had been bottling up his emotions, his pain and anger. Sure, he had moments he lashed out or couldn’t find the will to get out of bed, but he hadn’t fully let it out yet.
Hanks wheels him over to the couch, moving him over and pulling him into a tight hug. He doesn’t say anything, just lets Charles cry, sending reassuring thoughts his way.
There wasn’t any false reassurance, no ‘it’ll be okay’ or ‘you’ll be fine’ just his presence, the knowledge that he was there, no matter what, he was by his side and would do whatever they needed to.
Charles is the first person he met that was happy he was a mutant, he found a kinship here, even more so in the past year. Charles had become a brother to him, and he hated seeing the man suffer.
He had a brilliant mind and a kind heart, Hank treasured it. Charles gave him a home, and he can never repay that. It was a small price to pay to readjust the place for a wheelchair. It didn’t change how Hank saw him.
He doesn’t rush things, doesn’t fidget or get impatient. Just sits there, holding him. Finally, his sobs quiet, his breathing evening out. Hank isn’t sure if he’s fallen asleep or not.
He feels a presence in his mind. "Thank you." Hank rubs his back. "Of course." He can feel the gratitude, "Have I ever told you I loved you?" Hank chuckles, "Don’t worry, it’s implied."
It was, in things Charles would do for him, things he had seen the man do for Raven, making sure he ate if he forgot, pushing him to sleep. Would ask him how he was, making sure all was well.
He would come to Hank with new discoveries just to share them, he was the first to know if Charles figured something out or got his research or something accepted somewhere.
He would bring Hank notebooks and pens to use, get him new equipment, make sure he had everything he needed or even just wanted for the lab.
They stay where they are, he can tell Charles doesn’t want to move quite yet. "Any better?" Charles is a heavy weight against him, not that he’s lacking strength, but he knows it means the man is fully relaxed.
"Some. I yelled at them." Hank winces. "Yeah, some students heard raised voices and told me. They described who was here, and I knew." He feels regret from Charles. “Did they hear anything?"
Hank is quick to reassure him. "No, just raised voice, nothing else. They’re worried, that’s all." The regret turns to relief. He’s quiet for a few minutes. "I shouldn’t have yelled at them."
Hank scoffs. "Why not? I would have. Besides, you needed that." He knows Charles doesn’t like to yell, hates fighting with people unless absolutely necessary, but it was justified.
Since they’re speaking telepathically, Charles can sense his sincerity, knows exactly how he feels and sees the situation.
It must help because Charles doesn’t argue further, seeing the truth in his words. He remains silent, and Hank hears him fall asleep.
After a while, he speaks, “You two can come in.” The door opens, and Erik and Raven stick their heads in, Erik raises an eyebrow. “I thought Charles was the telepath.”
Hanks levels a glare at him. “I could smell you.” Erik winces as they enter, Raven eyeing the two of them. “You two got close.”
Hank nods. “He needed someone to lean on, I was here. He helped me accept myself and gave me a home. We became family, much like you two did.”
She nods in understanding, Charles was a very easy person to care for. “You going to yell at us too?” Hank's eyes flash as he glares at Erik. “I want to. But I’m not going to wake him up, god knows he hasn’t been sleeping well.”
Hank sighs. “Besides, I’m sure you heard it from him already. Just know I’m angry too. I was here when you weren’t, I saw what he went through firsthand.”
Raven is watching Charles with a sad expression. “Will he forgive me?” As angry as Hank is, he does still care about Raven. “Of course he will, he still loves you.”
She sighs, wiping a tear away. “I’ll make something for him to eat, there’s a soup I make he loves, he should be able to eat some.” Hanks smiles. “He’ll appreciate it.”
She leaves, and the silence is tense. They had never really gotten along before, and now it was worse. Erik studies Charles’s face, relaxed as he sleeps.
He’s snapped out of his thoughts by Hank. “He still loves you, too, you know?” Erik looks up, something in his chest tightening. “God knows why he still does, but I know he does. I know what you two were heading towards, or maybe you were already there, I don’t know. But I know he still has those feelings.”
Hank contemplates for a moment. “Since you’re here if you want to help, the elevator is grinding, don’t think it was installed properly, perhaps you could help.” Erik nods, happy to have something to do.
Hours later, Raven comes into the room with a tray, on it is a bowl of soup, some crackers and tea. Charles is still on the couch, leaning on the arm reading, he looks up, and Raven is surprised when she sees him. “You’re awake.”
He nods, “Hank told me you were making something. He went back to the lab not too long ago.” Raven sets the tray down on the coffee table, and Charles sets his book on the side table.
She looks up shyly. “Chicken and wild rice. I’m a little rusty, but it’s edible.” He looks at it for a moment, then back to her. He shifts, so he’s sitting up more before opening his arms.
She runs to the couch, latching on to him. She’s crying again, her hands fisted in his shirt. She can’t speak through her tears, her facade melting away to reveal the blue underneath.
She feels his presence in her mind and lets him in happily, "I'm sorry." His presence is comforting, one she’s known for most of her life. "Me too." She sends him disbelief. "You have nothing to be sorry for."
She feels his regret. "I shouldn’t have yelled at you." She hugs him tighter. "You had the right. I know I would have. I don’t blame you."
She feels him sigh against her. "I just want to move past it." She reluctantly pulls back, tucking some of his hair behind his ear. "Me too. I’ve missed you."
He pulls her forward and kisses her forehead. “I missed you too.” She feels happy at his words, hoping he feels it too. She’s calm enough to speak out loud. “You up for some food?”
He grimaces. “I’ll try, don’t know how much I can stomach, but I’ll never turn down your soup.” She beams at him, grabbing the tray and bringing it forward, folding out feet on the bottom and putting it over his lap.
He gives her a grateful look, grabbing his spoon. She looks at the room around her, noting the differences. It used to be a drawing room, now fully converted into an office/study.
She looks over when she hears Charles hum. “Exactly as I remember.” She smiles, happy to see he’s eating a good amount.
She leans on his shoulder, just happy to be home.
A week passes, and within the next few days, he finds the mutant, they contact the other mutants in the area to retrieve him, relieved when they hear he’s safe.
Raven spends a lot of time with Charles, Erik, however, avoids him. He spends the time helping with any repairs, exploring the grounds again and talking with some of the young mutants.
One evening Raven stops him before he enters his room, the one he had been staying in before. “Go see him.”
He opens his mouth, but she holds a finger up. “He told me to tell you to go see him right now. He would tell you himself, but his head is really sore, so he doesn’t want to use his telepathy.”
Erik presses his lips together but nods, heading to Charles’s room, following the metal from Charles’s wheelchair.
He knocks and hears a quiet invitation, stepping inside. Charles looks up, he’s still in his wheelchair beside a table with a chess set and an empty chair across from him.
He smiles. “You came.” Erik’s heart skips a beat. “Raven said you wanted to see me.” Charles nods, “I just got this new chess set and set it up. Wanted to invite you for a game.”
Erik approaches, “She said your head hurt.” He nods slightly. “Sometimes it gets too much, my control has slipped since,” He trails off. “The pain makes it hard to block everything out, so sometimes I get a lot at once, and it gives me such a headache. Hurts less if I don’t use my telepathy.”
Erik nods, sitting in the other seat. He studies the pieces. “They’re metal.” It’s a complete metal set, the pieces solid metal. Charles sends him a smirk. Erik returns it, “Who’s first?”
Charles makes the first move, they play in silence for a while, Erik moves the pieces without touching them a few times, causing Charles to smile.
They’re probably halfway through their game, Erik is idly winding a piece around his fingers, Charles is studying the board. “I’m sorry for yelling.”
The piece suddenly stops. “Sorry? You don’t need to be sorry. I deserved that.” Charles shakes his head. “Perhaps, and I won’t lie and say it didn’t make me feel a little better, but I’m still sorry for yelling.”
The piece starts moving again. “I won’t hold it against you.” Charles looks up, “Neither will I. I just want to move on.”
Erik nods, “You’re not broken.” It’s abrupt, and Charles’s hand freezes over a piece. Erik gets up, kneeling next to Charles, placing a hand on the side of his neck.
Charles looks up, his eyes are wet. Erik leans forward. “I mean it. You’re not.” Charles's hand moves to cup Erik’s face, and he leans in, stopping barely an inch away. “You really believe that.”
He does, he opens his mind, letting the feelings flow without Charles having to look for them. He smiles, pressing their foreheads together.
Erik envisions kissing him, in response, Charles’s smile deepens before he presses their lips together.
Their kiss deepens, and Erik feels his mind surrounded by Charles. They pull apart, Charles’s voice is barely above a whisper. “Stay with me tonight?”
He doesn’t even have to think about it. “Of course.” They abandon their game, moving to the bed. He allows Charles to do what he likes, not wanting to step in where he’s not wanted.
He’s impressed with how easily Charles manages to move himself into bed, he lifts the covers as invitation. Erik slides in, they end up on their sides facing one another.
Erik plays with a piece of his hair. “You need a haircut.” Charles eyes the fingers. “Hasn’t been high on my priority list.” Erik feels guilt trying to claw its way up, but he pushes it down. “I mean, it’s a good look.”
Charles snorts. “Please, I’m a mess.” Erik runs a finger over the beard, “You don’t look that bad. You can pull this look off.”
He can see Charles blush, moving forward to join their lips again. They kiss for a while before snuggling up together, slowly falling asleep.