***
The two siblings stared at each other, neither quite sure what to say. Charles wasn’t going to apologize for being with Erik, or for putting him first at this moment. He wasn’t even sure what Raven was pissed about, and he had promised her years ago he would stay out of her head.
He sighed, took a few steps away from the door and waved his hand at her. “Just say what’s on your mind. Whatever it is, you’re practically vibrating to let it out.”
“You’re fucking Erik!”
“That is what you’re upset over?” He shook his head in confusion. “Yes, though I wouldn’t put it that crass. We became lovers when we were recruiting other Mutants. He’s got a beautiful mind, it calls to me.”
“So you’re doing it for his brain.”
“Well he’s also quite handsome.” Still not sure exactly where this was going.
“What about all the girls?”
“What about them?” Charles sighed, feeling a headache coming on. He really hadn’t recovered from the stress of the past week.
“You flirted with them!” As if that explained everything.
“Yes, ’cause flirting with a man, would get you arrested if you’re lucky, and in some areas killed.” He glared at her like she was an idiot. “I’ve always been like this, Raven. I don’t care what the package is, male or female. But I’m not stupid to flaunt it.”
“So, basically you’re a slut.”
“Well if that’s how you want to think of me.” His voice rose, not appreciating his relationship with Erik being cheapened or any of his relationships cheapened to such a level. “I like people. But I don’t fuck everyone I flirt with.” He emphasized the word just to make a point. “What is really the problem here Raven. That I’m Queer? That it’s Erik? Or that you didn’t know?”
“How could you not tell me?”
“It’s not like you gave me a lot of options.” He stepped back, and turned to head down the hallway. “I need tea to deal with this, and I don’t want your screaming to wake up Erik.”
“Oh, yes precious Erik.”
Raven actually took a step back at the power she suddenly felt coming off of her brother. Charles turned – eyes narrowed, hand moving up to his forehead. He took a calm breath, relaxed and then in a tone, she had never heard from him.
“You can be pissed at me Raven. You can call me a slut. You can rant and rave about how everything I’ve done has been wrong. But I will not tolerate you attacking Erik at this moment.” He held up his hand stopping her retort. “I know Erik isn’t perfect. He has a lot of anger in him, and a lot of pain. And some very extremist point of views. I am not excusing or even agreeing with some of his actions, but I am starting to understand some of them. But he’s recovering from a bullet wound to the chest!” He snapped, hand gesturing to his heart. “Because he stepped in front of it to save me. So, bitch at me. Yell at me. Hell, hit me. But do not drag Erik into our fights because you’re upset he decided to fuck me instead of you.”
And with that he turned and stalked to the kitchen. He had the kettle filled and on the stove, a cup on the counter, by the time she caught up with him.
“How did you know I made a move on him?” She demanded, eyes narrowed.
“I didn’t read it in your mind if that’s what you’re getting pissy about.” He put the teabag into the cup before turning to face her. “He told me. What do you think I was grabbing a bottle of champagne out of the fridge for when you confronted me in this very kitchen?”
“Moira.”
He stared at her incredulously. “Really? Whatever bloody hell gave you that impression?”
“She’s cute.”
“She’s technically was our boss or liaison. She wasn’t even here most of the time. I’m not even sure what’s going on with the CIA at the moment, and really don’t care.” He grabbed the screaming kettle and poured the hot water, he poured in some sugar and milk, and with a sigh he turned back around, leaned against the counter holding his cup, while steeping the bag. “Okay so you’re pissed you didn’t know Erik and I are in a relationship. That’s cleared up, so what are still annoyed with.”
She glared at him.
“I’m not reading your mind!” He snapped. “But you’re very loud right now Raven, and I can feel you anger, you’re practically seething in it.”
“You do realize you almost killed Moira.”
“Yes.” His shoulders slumped, it wasn’t his finest moment. He strained the bag and tossed it in the sink, he was stalling and he knew it. “I was angry my lover was dying in my arms, and there was nothing I could do.”
“It was his fault.” She crossed her arms across his chest. “He was going to kill all those people.”
“Actually he wasn’t.”
She startled at Charles softer voice. He almost sounded disappointed. Well he should be, Erik had betrayed all of them.
“How do you know?” She demanded, pushing the issue.
“Because unlike everyone, he lets me in his head.” He sipped his tea, and then took a seat at the table. “What happened on the beach was a fuck up on everyone’s part. Mine. Erik. The CIA. Moira. The Russians. You can blame Erik, but reality it was the humans who fired at us, willing to kill anyone on that beach or beyond.” He gave her a look, forcing her to stay silent. “I’m not agreeing with what Erik did, nor do I think that all humans are evil. This past week I’ve had to look at myself and my own beliefs. I can’t be this naïve. I want to open a school, bring our kind here to teach give them a safe place. But I also need to protect them. Erik sees the beauty in all mutations. He thinks you’re gorgeous in your natural form, and would fight to allow you to be yourself. While I preached that we should get along with humans, yet tell you to hide. Neither of us is right nor wrong.”
“You balance each other.” She sat across from him, suddenly talking with her brother.
“Yes.” He smiled at her. “I love him. I know he loves me, but he’s had a hard life filled with pain. We will never agree on what the right thing to do, but I think we can learn to listen to each other. My fault was that I didn’t really listen to what he was saying about Shaw, his fault was he never looked beyond Shaw.”
“And now?” Raven couldn’t help but wonder.
“Now I’m going to help him heal, and then we’ll likely fight over exactly how to build a school. Alex, Sean and Hank will snicker behind our backs. You will likely in time take his side. But in the end I’m hoping we’ll all find our way.”
Raven reached over and took his hand. “I’ll back you on occasion.”
“Thank you my dear.” He chuckled and took another sip of his tea. “Is this when we hug and make-up.”
Raven got out of her seat, and moved around the table to settled next to her brother pulling him into her arms. “You’ve always protected me.”
“It’s time I let you grow up.”
“I am grown up. It’s time you figured that out.” She kissed him on the forehead. “He hurts you I kill him.”
Charles held her tightly, and then let her go. “So catch me up on everything else.”
“We need a staff or something.” She sat back down, giving her brother a look. “Janus is the only one who can cook, and it’s not that spectacular. And Charles, I’m living with mostly boys, they don’t clean up after themselves.”
“I’ll yell at the children, and see if we can bring back some of our original staff. They dealt with us as kids, so maybe Hank in blue fur wouldn’t be too shocking.” He finished his tea and washed the cup out. “Is Janus out shopping?”
“He’s looking for Kosher foods. I think Azazael is helping.”
Charles knew that tone, and he felt the rush of arousal from his sister. He turned on his heel and looked at his sister with wide eyes.
“What?” She gave him a pointed look.
“You and Azazael?”
“You really can’t bitch.” She stood up from her seat, giving him a wink. “By the way, you do have one major thing to deal with.”
He sighed, and it had to be soon. The last thing he wanted or needed was for Moira to confront Erik. He admired her, she was strong, willful, and fought her way through a man’s world. He wouldn’t put it past her to take Erik head on, but what she didn’t realize – Erik didn’t care that she shot him, he was pissed she shot at him with Charles in the line of fire. If she confronted him, he would see it as a threat to Charles, and that would not end well for her.