Quick Author’s Note: You get an extra long part since I didn’t post anything the past week. We’re coming down to the end of the story and will likely post all of it this week.
Hank moved back into the Temple, shutting the door behind him with a clang. He nodded towards Bobby, who gave it a few extra layers of ice.
This was it.
The last stand.
Charles made himself comfortable on the floor, leaning against the altar. “You’re bleeding.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Hank hissed as he settled next to his friend. “Storm used the jet and was able to take out at least three of the Sentinels, but they kept coming.”
He only nodded, he had felt Storms lost, along with the rest of his team. He hoped his past self, will find all of them, and give them homes instead of war.
Mystique sat down next to her brother, giving him a half smile. “Any last requests?”
“I would like a hamburger.” Beast chuckled, as he dug out the metal Star of David. “You think there’s peace for us.”
“Yes.” Charles reached into his uniform, pulling out the most precious item he carried. A photo of him and Erik from their time in Paris. They were so carefree and happy, he rubbed his thumb over the top of the image, the spot was run down from all these years. “It would seem we failed.”
“Don’t give out hope on Erik yet.” Mystique reached over and took Charles’ hand. “He will do what needs to be done.”
“And I’m sure in the grandest way possible.” Hank added, reaching over to put his hand on Charles’ knee. “He will make this right, not to save the world, but for you Charles.”
He laid his head back against the altar, he was tempted to tap into Logan’s mind to see what’s going on, yet he knew Wolverine didn’t need the distraction. He could feel Kitty was weakening, and Bobby was likely going to be their last defense. As powerful as the three of them were their mutations weren’t viable against the Sentinels.
He could hear the door melting, as the Sentinels breaking into their last refuge.
Charles closed his eyes, and selfishly dove into Logan’s mind he wanted to see Erik one last time, before he died.
He stood wearing an X-Men uniform, controlling two Sentinels, while destroying some metal box. He used Logan to look over to see his younger self, he had always been turned on at the display of Erik’s Mutation. His focus was back on his lover, he was in command of the situation and beautiful in his righteous fury.
<<Charles>>
He blinked in shock, he had no idea how Erik of then could feel him.
<<You’ve always been open to me Liebling.>> He could feel the humorous chuckle, along with his exhaustion. <<You sent Logan back to me. Trust me to fix this.>>
<<I love you>> He let go of the connection, feeling for the first time in decades at peace.
“I’m sorry.” Mystique held his hand tightly. “I never said it. You lost him because of me, and I’m sorry.”
Charles pulled her into his arms, as they Sentinels started to burn through the door.
***
Magneto ripped the wall off the metal box, and stared at the occupants.
He took in the agents, who pulled their guns, the few Senators who were hiding in the back, the President was sitting the closest looking as if he was contemplating his life and what led him to this moment. And then there was Trask, standing in the midst of all of them, looking smug yet terrified.
This was it.
He had sensed the older Charles presence, felt his pain, yet despite it all the underlying hope. He would make this right, for Charles – the one who stood by watching, and the one clung to the desperation the world will be a better place.
The shot sliced across his neck. He hissed in pain, ignoring the blood as it flowed down his back. He had no energy left to deflect smaller projectiles, still focusing on keeping the last two Sentinels hovering over head. He was not above using them to destroy the whole damn lot of them.
Mystique suddenly appeared in front of him in her natural form, head tilted cringing in pain. Erik didn’t take the time to look over at Charles, who he was sure, just lashed out at his sister for shooting him.
He knew it was Charles’ greatest fear.
“Why are trying stop me?” She held the gun firm, but lowered it. Her gaze shifting at the two Sentinels above them.
“I’m protecting our people, while your hell bent on destroying them!” He yelled back, not noticing that suddenly the world was focused on them.
“You were the one who said, we were better than them.” Mystique argued.
“We are!” He yanked on one of the Sentinels feeling it pull away, as he was losing his grip. “We’re the next step in human evolution. We are fast, stronger, and superior than they are.”
“Yet you’re okay with them hunting us down and killing us!” She waved her hand towards the Sentinels and then over to Trask.
“Don’t assume because I won’t start a war, as apathy to the destruction of our people!” Erik sighed, suddenly just tired of all of it. “You’re not helping us. You are creating fear, and once they fear us, then they destroy us. Fear is what led to millions of my people, my parents, shoved into a gas chamber. Fear is what leads to lynchings. Fear is how we get gay bashings. They fear what’s not normal, what’s not like them. Killing them, is not going to stop it. It’s going to escalate it.”
“Let them escalate it.” She snapped, gun now pointing at Trask. “We don’t fear them.”
“But you do, or you wouldn’t be here.” His voice dropped into a softer tone. “In time we will be more than them, our children’s children will stand amongst them and not fear them. This isn’t about me, this isn’t about you. This is about our children. It’s doing what’s right for them.”
“The only thing stopping you from doing what you should be doing is your own fear.” Mystique focused back on him, letting all of her anger and frustration out on the other Mutant. “Ever since you were shot …”
“That is what you never understood. I wasn’t shot, Mystique. I stepped into the bullet’s path. I made the choice, because …” He glanced over at Charles, then focused back on her. “… because his life was more important than my ego. I’m standing here, right now in front of you telling you not to do this, not for myself … hell not even for my kids. I’m standing here begging you to walk away, because Charles deserves the future he dreams of. The one where we … all of us … humans and mutants live in a world together. Because he believes we can.”
“Charles is naive!”
“Yes he is.” Erik smirked, feeling his lover’s indignation. “But he’s my Naive Idealist, and I will swallow my pride and ego to do what’s right.”
“And Trask lives.” She cried out, all the anger seeping out of her. “He lives, after torturing and killing Mutants!!”
“If that’s what it takes.” His focus moved ono Trask. “I hunted Nazi’s for twenty years, and I learned that when you turn on your own people, and commit genocide – fate will catch up.”
“I am not a Mutant!” Trask stepped forward, pissed at being called one of them.
“Are you not?” Erik watched him intently. “You are not human. You are not one of them. You are unique, and they look down upon you. They didn’t care to listen to you because of your size, not until you created something they needed. You are a fellow Mutant, and would be accepted among us, instead you decided to hunt and kill us.”
“You are dangerous!” He argued.
“Says the man who created machines that will destroy all of us.” Erik pulled one of them closer, letting the weapons focus on everyone in the destroyed panic room. “Don’t think for a second Trask, that not killing you is a weakness. I just believe that justice will come to you, as it came for the all those like you.” He looked at the rest of the humans. “I stand here before you, not as your savior, but for my fellow Mutants. Know this, we will not be hunted. We will not be marched to Concentration Camps. If you come for us … we will fight.”
“What do you want?” The President stood pushing Trask into his chair, walking boldy past the Mutant, who still held a weapon that could be used against him.
“How about not killing us to start with.” Erik reached out and destroyed both Sentinels, letting their parts fall and scattered on the ground. “I’ve been in a Concentration Camp, I refuse to see my children in one.”
“You stated some of your people have been tortured?” He glanced back at Trask, then out to the Mutant.
“How do you think he got these things to hunt us?” Erik glanced over towards Alex and Darwin who were making their way closer. “A soldier, fought in your army, ask him how many of his men disappeared into labs.” He pointedly looked at Trask. “Today how many of your citizens were targeted by these machines. My friends were murdered, he has one of our fellow Mutant’s wing on display in his office … no better than the Nazi doctors who experimented on Jews.”
“I can’t guarantee all of us will not be afraid. But I can work to make sure we both have a better future, starting with investigation into Trask industries.” The President held his hands out in a peaceful gesture.
Erik nodded then looked at Mystique, she glared but nodded in recognition. Azazel popped in behind her, then the two disappeared as quickly. With a sigh, he gave a final salute to the President and slowly made his way through the debris towards Charles.
The Professor stared at him, with awe and love. <<Darling …>>
<<Don’t ruin it Charles>>
<<When we get home, I’m peeling you out of that outfit, running a hot bath and will take good care of you.>>
<<Sounds perfect.>>
“ERIK!”
He turned at the sound of his name, only to see another Sentinel heading in his direction. He reached out, scrambling when he felt no metal to grab on. “What the fuck? It’s not metal!”
Alex took aim, pushing past his own exhaustion only to have the machine turn on him, sending a similar blast at him. Darwin grabbed him, throwing his body over his friend taking most of the hit.
Logan growled and went for the attack, only to get slammed straight into the ground, knocking him out.
Hank pushed the kid into Charles’s arms and shoved both of them back, getting between the two and the approaching Sentinel. “I have no idea how he even made it, this is beyond anything I’ve seen.”
“Says the man who has a Blackbird under the basketball court.” Erik hissed, yanking every piece of metal in the vicinity and using it to push the sentinel away from them. “We have to get it turned off!”
<<Turn it off!!>> Charles sent the message to Trask, who tossed the remote on to the ground and destroyed it. <<You’re killing innocent people!>>
As the machine got closer, Charles worst fears were coming true. He was still going to lose Erik. The mutant was beyond exhausted, and he wasn’t sure how much more Erik could handle. He pushed past Hank, and wrapped his arms around Erik’s chest, channeling his own strength to him … and if it all fails he would die with him.
<<Darling … >>
Erik suddenly stilled, the world went calm around them as everything slowed down. He closed his eyes and focused on Charles, let his serenity wash over him … the ground began to shake as he began to pull the metal elements from the earth.
Hank stared in shock as a magnet field began to form around them. “Holy shit.”
Charles looked around in awe, the power Erik was showcasing was beyond anything he had ever seen or even contemplated. <<Don’t destroy the earth, honey.>>
Erik reached out to the Sentinel, using the Earth to pull it down, when it suddenly crashed in front of them and skidded to halt meer meters from their feet. He stared at it, blinking for a few moments, until he looked up to see Peter standing on the top of it, a bunch of wires in his hands. “That was so cool!”
“You are fucking grounded!” Erik yelled at him, terrified, relieved, yet so very proud of his son.
“We did it.” Kurt popped next to his brother, then froze at his Vatar’s expression. “We go now.” He grabbed Peter and disappeared as quickly as they appeared.
“I’m going to kill both of them.” Erik let out a breath, bending over not sure if he was going to be sick or just pass out where he was at. “Do you think we did it?”
Charles looked around to see everyone staring at the destruction, then at the Mutants around them. Medical personal were helping Alex and Darwin, along with the a few of the Veterans, including one Four Star General.
He heard a cry, and a young woman running towards them. Hank let go of the kid, who ran for his mother. She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her cheek as she checked her son to make sure he was alright.
A few of the cops were moving towards them, along with more medical personal. They stopped to check on Logan, only to be bewildered when he seemed perfectly fine. Those that approached Hank, hesitated until he nodded and let them look at his wounds.
Federal Agents grabbed Trask and dragged him out of what was left of the panic room, he was yelling that he was saving them, that they should listen to him, the Mutants were dangerous. His protests were quieted when he was put into one of the few cars that was still standing.
Charles looked over Erik’s shoulder at the President, who gave them a salute, then looked back at the White House and sighed. “Well it needed some renovations!”
“I think we did.” He pulled Erik around, cupping his cheek and pulled him down for a kiss, holding him tightly. <<I love you>>
“Can we go home now?” He held him in his arms, ignoring the buzzing around him. Until a few of the paramedics approached. “What do you want?”
“You’re bleeding sir, do you mind if we take a look?”
Erik hesitated still not trustful of humans, but one look from Charles was enough to let them help. He ended up sitting on the ground surrounded by metal debris. He fiddled with a few pieces as he was being patched up. “I’m surprised Dr. Gregory hasn’t just appeared screaming at me.”
They both paused, looked around then chuckled. “Wait until we get home, he’ll be at the doorstep.”
“When we get home the kids are grounded for life.” Erik winced as the paramedic cleaned the bullet wound.
“Don’t be too harsh on them, darling. After all they helped save the world.” Charles settled next to him, watching the small pieces of metal floating. “They take after their Vatar.”
Xtremely Xcellent chapter! And, oh, those kids are sooo grounded… And Erik becomes a hero not a villain.
Happy dance!
—Naj : D
You’re doing a really good job of keeping all this together in light of the film and the plotholes. This version actually makes a bit more sense in some respects. The focus on Charles and Erik is perfect. And I’m eager to see how you tie it all up with a third movie still to go! Heheh!!