***
Charles never felt so exhausted in his life.
Erik was resting, finally. He had made sure the pillows were fluffed and there were enough to keep the older man sitting up, yet comfortable enough to sleep. The oxygen mask was resting against his chest at the moment, in case it was needed.
Erik’s breathing was labored, but at the moment calm.
Charles sighed as he moved off the bed, and made his way to the en-suite bathroom. He looked at the mirror, and cringed. He looked like he had aged ten years in the past week, with the rate things were going he would be bald by the time he was forty.
He splashed some water on his face, took a few more calming breathes of his own, before making his way back into the bedroom.
Hank was standing just inside the bedroom door.
Charles gave him a warm smile, as he made his way to the dropped bags.
Seeing Erik in so much pain seconds after leaving the hospital had terrified him. Realizing why he was pissed and hurting, had angered him. He knew that coming back to New York, and dealing with everyone wasn’t going to be easy. But he hadn’t figured it would explode seconds they returned, he had hoped for a few hours at least.
“How’s he doing?” Hank asked voice soft and low.
“Asleep.” Charles glanced back at Erik, he couldn’t help the small smile. “They gave him a sedative before he was discharged, lucky it’s kicking in now. He’ll need food, meds, and probably another shot in a few hours.”
He dug through the duffle bag and pulled out the bag of medications and wad of instructions and handed them over to Hank. “We’ll need to get some of these prescriptions refilled.” Charles paused. “Any means necessary.”
One of Hank’s eyebrows shot up, but he didn’t say anything. He continued reading the chart and paperwork. “He’s got metal in his chest?” He looked up shocked, eyes wide. “That’s not going to end well.”
“Nope.” He agreed humorlessly. “When he uses his powers it pulls on the staples and wire.”
“Yeah so seeing the person who shot you five seconds into recovery didn’t go well.” Hank kept looking through paperwork. “We’ve got some nice areas in the garden that would help with the exercises. Doubt he’ll be up to his five mile morning runs, but a walk to the balcony could be good.”
“Give me the rundown of what’s going on.” Charles sat down on one of the chairs, waving a hand at Hank. “Don’t sugar coat it.”
Hank dropped his hands and looked at his friend. “What bad news would you like first?”
“The one that won’t make me screech.” He sighed falling further into the chair exhausted.
“Well everyone knows you two are lovers.” Hank shrugged, figured that was the less troublesome. “Alex’s taking to calling you two mom and dad.”
Charles’ snorted. “I’m going to take a while guess here, and say I’m mom.”
Hank didn’t have to answer that question. “Raven is livid I’m not quite sure exactly what’s pissing her off, but I’m guessing all of the above.”
Charles didn’t want to know what A through D were exactly, but he was sure he was going to find out in about an hour.
Unless he could hide in Erik’s room for the next ten years.
“Everyone’s leery of Angel, which is understandable. Azazael has seemed to settle, but isn’t here often. Janus stays close to Angel, but I have to admit he’s helped out around here, including going for food and doing odd things. He seems to try to fit in, yet not.”
He waved his hand for Hank to continue when he paused, he knew what was coming next.
“Moira isn’t happy. She’s feeling part prisoner other part warden. Alex and Sean have been cool towards her, but nothing outright. I’m not sure what to do about any of it truthfully.”
“And you?” He asked gazing intently at his friend. The fact Hank was still with fur, meant he was working something out for himself or at least hadn’t had time to figure out how to get the ‘beast’ back under control.
“I’m not sure.” Hank shrugged. “We did what we set out to do. Shaw’s dead. I’m not sure how, nor do I really want to know. We’ve stopped World War Three, but the US and Russia are eyeing each other like two rabid dogs. Cuba is caught in the middle, and well it’s like nothing happened yet everything has changed. As for Erik, it wasn’t until I just saw him that made me realize how bad that moment was. He took a bullet for you, so I’m grateful, but he wouldn’t have been shot if he hadn’t taken control of the missiles, but if he hadn’t we and Cuba would be ash.”
“That is a good recap of this fuck up.”
“Did he intend to kill those soldiers?” He asked quietly, glancing at the bed.
“No.” Charles sat up, resting his head on his hands. “I saw it in his mind, oh he wanted to, but also knew not to … saying a soldier was just doing his duty doesn’t work on him considering his past, but he also knew most those soldiers didn’t have a choice in what was going on. In the end I think he wanted to make a point.”
If the damn helmet hadn’t been on, he would’ve have been able to sense what Erik was up to.
<<You should’ve trusted me.>>
Charles looked over at the bed to see that Erik was awake, and probably had been through most of the conversation.
<<You should’ve trusted me! You didn’t the moment you put on that helmet!>>
Erik sighed, shifting slightly on the bed.
<<Don’t you dare move and pull on your incision you asshole.>>
He snorted.
<<I didn’t want you stopping me from killing Shaw, and you know you would have if you could, no matter the high ground you take when using your power.>>
Charles’ eyes narrowed. <<It was always your decision.>>
<<Cute you think that.>> He was fully awake, staring directly at Charles. <<That decision was taken from me the moment he shot my mother.>>
<<You could’ve been the better man.>> He argued getting annoyed with himself for having this argument when Erik should be resting.
<<But I’m not. That’s what you don’t get Charles. I’m not.>>
“You are!” He stood up, stalking over to the bed and then onto it. “You are and will always be better than Shaw. You are not the monster you think you are.”
“I think Hank there would disagree with you.” He motioned towards the other mutant.
Charles glanced behind him, to see Hank looking between them. His blue paw moved up to scratch at the back of his neck. “I think we are all monsters in our own minds.”
Both blinked at the younger mutant. “You’re not a monster, Hank.” Charles shifted to move to his friend.
“I’m not?” He looked down at his body to see a ‘Beast’.
“No.” Erik added his voice in with Charles. “I know a monster when I see one, and you Hank are far from it. Annoying, yes. But to geeky to be one.”
Charles glared at him, only to focus back on Hank who was snickering. “You don’t even like me.”
“No Hank, I don’t like that you don’t like your mutation.” Erik shrugged only to cringe in pain. “I thought the feet were odd, but useful. Still better than the humans. Now you’re amazing, and you hate yourself.”
Hank growled. “Don’t make me like you.”
Erik laughed, which led to coughing. Charles moved next to him, supporting him as he worked to breathe, in the end Hank moved and shoved the oxygen mask over his mouth.
Hank ignored both of them, as he checked Erik’s pulse, not happy that it was high. “You need to rest, and no arguing internally or externally.” He gave a small glare at Charles. “You want to stay in here with him? I can get your stuff from your room.”
Charles nodded, it would pointless to act like he was going to stay in his own room. “There’s a list of dietary needs, make sure someone gets groceries.” He paused glancing at Erik, he could feel him falling back to sleep. “The food needs to be Kosher.”
“I’ll send Janus, he’s been really good about shopping.” Hank nodded again, and then moved for the door. “He’s not really a monster.”
“I know.”
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m okay with him killing Shaw.” Hank looked down, not wanting to see Charles disapproval. “I couldn’t think of any way to keep him alive without him hurting others. That and he stole Angel and killed Darwin.”
“She made her own decision.” Charles pointed out, and that was yet another thing he had to deal with.
“Yeah, but we all make mistakes.” He glanced at Erik, gave Charles a shrug then left the room.
“When did our kids grow up?” Charles wondered out loud.
“They’re your kids, Charles.” Erik pulled the mask down, giving him a look.
“Oh no, darling. You helped me find them, they’re ours.” He put the mask back on him, then shifted until he was sitting against the headboard, and pulled Erik close. Only after a moment of hesitation, Erik relaxed and rested his head on Charles’ shoulder, drifting back to sleep.
I absolutely adore the fact that Charles keeps calling Erik ‘darling’…