Tag: Creator: Bj Jones

First Chapter: Part 1

Previous Chapter: Part 11

***

“Do you really love him?”  Raven asked leaning against the kitchen counter.  “I mean he can be violent.”

“Yes.”  He turned and studied her.  “He’s also gentle, deep down, well mostly to me.”  Charles smirked slightly.  “Raven, I’ve seen what Shaw did to him, and the fact he’s as sane as he is, is astounding.  Erik needs to deal with the rage, and I’m willing to help him find his serenity, but it’s going …”

<<MOM!!>>

Charles cringed.  His hand moved up to his forehead as Alex’s voice slammed into his mind.

<<CHARLES!>>

He blinked focusing on Alex, pushing in to find out what was going on.  He saw enough to know it was bad.

“Fuck!” He jumped up and ran for the stairs, Raven only a few steps behind him.  By the time he got to the right corridor, all hell was breaking loose.

Angel and Sean were flanking Alex, all three standing in front of Erik, who was in a shouting match with Moira.  Charles’ could feel Erik’s powers moving through the hallway, the lamps were bending to his will, every metal tray was vibrating, doors were rattling as pins were being pulled out of the hinges.

<<Erik NO!>>

He hit a block wall, hard enough that he actually blinked and looked at Erik to make sure he wasn’t wearing that damn helmet.

<<Erik!>>

“Moira this isn’t a good time …” Raven stepped next to her, taking her arm to pull her away.

“It’s as good as time as any!” She pulled out of her grasp.  “He has to answer my questions?”

“It’s been a week since he’s been shot!”  Sean stared at her in frustration and shock.  “The man is barely standing.”

“He seems perfectly fine to me.”  She glared over them at Erik.  “You were going to kill those innocent…”

“Innocent?!”  He snapped at her. “Innocent.  No soldier is innocent!”

“They were following orders!”  Hands on her hips she held her ground refusing to be intimidated.

“So where the Nazis when they shoved my father into the gas chamber, along with millions of my people!”  He growled.  “The moment you put on a uniform you don’t get to claim innocence.”

<<She’s no different, Charles.  This is what you don’t want to see.>>

“So you get to be judge and jury!”  Moira stepped closer, only to have Alex step away from Erik to block her.

“You may have missed the part where they were going to kill all of us.”  Alex waved his hand around the hallway.  “Every single one of us, just because we were different.  We saved their lives from Shaw and they were going to kill us – get rid of the freaks so they can rest easier.”

<<Please darling, I’ll make her leave.  I need you to calm down.  You’re hurting yourself.>>

“You were just collateral damage.” Angel added arms crossed over her chest.

“It gives him no right to turn the missiles back on them!”  She threw her hand out pointing towards Erik.

“Eye for an eye.”  A new voice popped into the fight.

A few turned to see Janus walking into the area, Hank not far behind him.

McCoy ignored everyone and made his way through the line of defense to get to Erik.  He growled low in his throat.  “Calm down all of you.”  He reached out taking Erik’s wrist, cursing when he felt his heart rate skyrocketing.  “Out.  Every single one of you.”

“NO!”  Moira held her ground.  “He has to be accountable.”

<<Who’s next Charles?  At the moment she’s after me.  She’s afraid of me.  My power.  Who’s next?  Azazael?  Raven? Which of the kids will she fear next?  I’m only the beginning.>>

“You shot him!”  Raven pointed out, she looked to Charles who was staring at Erik.  She couldn’t help but wonder if they were arguing via telepathy.

<<You have to trust me.>>

“He was going to kill innocents.”

“They were going to kill us.”

<<You’re the only one that I do trust.>>

“We’re all culpable!”  Charles snapped, they all turned and looked at him.  “I am, for not realizing the true threat Shaw was.  Erik is, for putting on that damn helmet.  Moira you shot at a man who manipulates metal…”

“I paid my price.”  Erik snarled hand clutched over his chest hating the weakness he was showcasing.  “You refused to see the same mistakes the damn soldiers were making.  You shot at me with Charles in the line of fire.  You shot at an innocent.  If I had deflected that bullet like I had intended to it would’ve hit Charles.”

Everyone turned back towards Charles, who only had eyes for Erik.

<<Darling…>>

<<I would do anything to protect you, Liebling.>>

“I couldn’t let that happen.  But what did you do?  You continued shooting. Like those innocent soldiers, who were shooting weapons of mass destruction at an island filled with other humans, but who cares, right, they were just Cubans.”

Hank moved behind Erik, not liking the sudden paleness he was seeing.  “We’re done here.”

“Everyone out…”  Charles took a step towards Erik, Sean moving out of his way.

“What were you even planning?”  Angel asked.  “Erik supposed to be on bed rest for weeks. Recovering is going to take months…”

“He needs to be brought in.  Detained and questioned.”

“You mean to lock him up?”  Sean asked bewildered. “But he’s our teammate.  He saved us from Shaw …”

“He’s dangerous!”

“You take him.”  Alex pulled back his shoulders, he could feel Angel’s wings vibrating next to him.  “You take us.”

<<No.  I will not allow her to take our children.>>

Sean looked at her in shock and pain.  “I thought you were our friend.”

<<Erik.  I will…>>

It was Beast that first realized the metal in the hallway stopped moving.  His hand tightened on Erik’s wrist, the other moving around his waist, prepping for the man to faint.  His blood pressure was too high, and body was about to give out.

<<I promised to protect you.  The school.  These kids. I can’t do that in a weakened state.  I need full use of my powers.>>

Raven grabbed Moira’s arm pulling her away from everyone else.  She could feel Janus’ whirlwinds, and had no doubt he was ready to use them.  She couldn’t help but think about the irony of the moment – Moira had done the one thing no one that possible.  She proved Erik’s point.  If she, who had worked with them, was willing to lock one of them up, who was next?

“ERIK NO!” Charles screamed as he reached out to his lover, pushing past Sean in haste.

Hank frowned at Charles’ frantic expression, and then he heard it … the sound of metal hitting the floor.  Followed by a second, third … with a growl he pulled Erik closer, using his larger paws to hold him up.

A cry of agonizing pain echoed through the hall, halting everyone in their tracks.  They all turned, staring in shock horror as a bloody wire was pulled from Erik’s chest and landed on the wooden floor.

Blood flowed through Hank’s fingers, as he yelled for Azazael.  In a flash the teleporter appeared grabbed patient and doctor and was gone.

Leaving behind 8 metal staples, 2 broken wires, and a pool of blood.

Part 10

***

Alex had snuck down the hallway and into the room, when he saw Raven stalking into the kitchen after her brother.  No one wanted to get in the middle of that sibling argument.  He slipped into the furthest bedroom, and gave Hank a half smile.

“How is he?”  He glanced over to the resting Erik in the chair.  Like the others, the shock of seeing their teammate coming back from the hospital hit home.  He was recovering from a gunshot wound.

“Resting at the moment.  I don’t like how high his blood pressure is.”  Hank frowned right down some notes in the medical files.  “We have to keep him calm.”  Alex’s snort was pretty much what the other mutant was thinking.  “Look lets be frank.”  He looked at the younger man.  “He’s got metal staples and wires in his chest… think about that.”

Alex frowned not quite understanding why that was important.  Then he realized what Erik’s mutation was.  “Damn.”

“He lashes out when pissed and also in fear, so if feels threatened.”  Hank ran a hand through his blue fur.

“He’ll use his power and it will pull on the healing wounds.  Yeah, got it.  Keep dad calm, which why haven’t we tied him to Charles?”

Hank chuckled.  “He has to deal with Raven.”

“If you two could whisper quieter some of us could get more sleep.”  Erik opened his eyes groggily glaring at the two of them.  “And I’m not your father.”

Alex gave him a smile and moved closer taking a seat on the coffee table.  “How you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been shot.”  He gave him an annoyed look.

Summers at least looked a bit embarrassed.  “Raven and Charles are having it out, so I figured I would keep you company.”

Erik shifted, cringing when his hand gave out from under him.  Alex held out his hand, giving Erik the leverage he needed to shift until he was sitting up.  He took a few breathes, trying to will the pain down.

Hank eyed the two of them, tempted to pull the oxygen tank over, but Erik seemed to settle down.  “I’m going to see about getting some of these scripts filled, Alex make sure he drinks more water and takes his pills in an hour.”

They watched as Hank left, then turned and looked at each other.

“Good he’s gone you can break me out.”

Alex held out his hands, shaking his head. “He’ll kill me.  And if he didn’t the disappointed look mom would give me, would just want me to kill myself.”

“Charles isn’t that scary.”

He gave him a look.

“Yeah okay, he does have the ‘I’m very disappointed look down’.”  Erik’s smirk, was enough to scare Alex even more.  “I’m not asking you to help me rob a bank, just walk over to the balcony.  I haven’t seen daylight or been outside in over a week.”

“Well that may have something to do with getting shot.”  Alex stood and held out both his hands, letting Erik use him as leverage to stand.  He easily shifted, taking a portion of the older man’s weight staying still until he was settled on his feet.  “You got this?”

He ignored the pain, instead taking a small step forward.  It was humiliating having Alex help him, like he was an old man, but at the moment he was grateful it was him and not the others.  Alex got the need to stand on your own, how showing weakness wasn’t an option.

It took ten minutes to get across the room, and onto the balcony.  Erik leaned against the balcony railing, taking in the fresh air.  He was sweating profusely and his body was shaking slightly, but damn the fresh air felt good.

“I can get the need for fresh air.”  Alex leaned his back against the railing keeping an eye on the patient.  He knew who would take the brunt of Charles’ anger if Erik was to fall and injure himself further.  He saw what happened on that beach, the desperation and fear had bled to all of them.

It was something none of them wanted to talk about.

But it was something Alex would never forget.

He felt Charles’ anguish.

It was when he knew that whatever was going on between the two men wasn’t a fling or scratching an itch.  That he understood.  You don’t spend time in prison, even juvenile prison and not get that.  His heart ached for Charles, and he was willing to do anything to fix it.  Thankfully Azazael stepped in and actually did do something, while the rest of them had just sat there like morons.

“So now what?”  He glanced over to the older man.  “I mean Shaw’s dead, which despite all the bluster, is a good thing.”

“I’m actually not sure.”  Erik answered shockingly honest.  “I’ve spent twenty years hunting that man down.  Hell for a moment there I probably would’ve taken over his organization.  He had some points, we are superior to humans and they will come after us.”

“But now?” He asked.

“Getting shot changed a few things.”  He looked over at Alex.  “It’s going to take me months to heal, and that is me likely pushing the envelope every chance I get.  I don’t have the energy to take over the world, at least not at the moment.”

He laughed, knowing full well Erik wasn’t kidding.

“So you’re playing house husband to Charles.”  Alex gave him a look, he knew Erik wasn’t a man to sit around and do nothing.

“He wants to open a school.”  Erik shifted until he was standing more upright, hands resting on the railing.  “And he should.  He’s right we need a place to hide.  A place where our kind will be safe, where they can learn to use their powers, to protect themselves and yes even others.  I know how out of control I was when I was a kid, I had spoons attached to me everywhere I went.”  Alex snorted.  “We don’t need humans using kids who can’t control their powers as an excuse to lock kids up.”

“So the world domination is on hold.”

“Don’t doubt for a second I wouldn’t bring the world to it’s knees if they ever came after Charles and his dreams of a school.”  Erik’s tone was dark and held conviction that gave Alex no doubt he would.  “So I’m going to do what Charles will hate, and make sure his school is protected.  There will need to be systems set up, surveillance in and around the school, and enough of a threat that if anyone shows up trying to bring harm to any of his kids, they’ll regret their life choices.”

“I can help you with that.”  Alex shifted sideways taking in Erik’s profile.  “Not every mutant is also going to appreciate Charles.”

“No.  Some will have had experiences with humans and will not like Charles’s naïve idealism.”  He agreed glancing at Alex.  “We need that.  You and me. We know what humans will do to us, hell we’ve seen what they do to their own kind.   We also have to watch out for other Shaws.  Mutants using mutants for their own gain, it’s not right.  And I hate to say I could’ve gone further down that path in my own extreme idealism.”

“You two balance each other.”

“I’m still not your dad.”  He gave him a dark glare.

“Sure thing, dad.”  Alex patted him on the shoulder.  “Want to go back inside?”

“How about a small walk around the hallway, then you can dump me in my chair and I’ll likely sleep like an old man for a few hours, and Charles will never know about the escape.”

Alex held out his arm, waiting patiently until Erik took it grumbling in German as he leaned against the younger mutant.  They made their way back into the room, and then out the door.

The coast was clear.

There was no need to talk as they made their way down the corridor, to the stairs.  Alex gave him a pointed look – they weren’t going down the stairs.  He knew exhaustion most be setting in, when Erik didn’t even contemplate it, just turned around to head back to his room.

They were almost home free.

When footsteps were heard coming up the stairs.

As they both turned, Alex knew instantly it wasn’t Hank or Charles.

He wouldn’t be that lucky.

Standing at the top of the stairs, was Moira.  Which meant only one thing, she was on her way to Erik’s room, as he was the only one staying in the section of the Mansion.

Alex stepped in front of Erik, ready to defend his friend.  As he mentally screamed for Charles, the light fixtures on the walls began to shake and bend.

“Fuck.”

 

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

Part Nine

***

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.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

***

He knew he couldn’t hide forever.

No matter what his inner six year old wanted.

Hank had returned with some soup, bread and fruit to get Erik to eat.  He scarfed it down, but then promptly fell back to sleep.  It was going to be the cycle for the next week or so.  They needed to get more food in him, and start him exercising – even if it was just to walk to the bathroom.

He had every intention of getting off the bed, taking a quick shower and face the children, but instead woke up with Erik warm against his side, and the sun shining through the window.  For a moment he thought it was that morning … the morning they left for Cuba.

Charles instantly noticed Erik was having difficulties breathing.  He shifted them, making sure he was sitting up, before placing the oxygen mask back over his mouth.   He sent a mental note to Hank, startling the boy awake, he apologized then asked if he could come to the room, with food so Erik could take his medications.

He knew Erik was tired and struggling, since he didn’t bitch at being helped out of the bed and to the bathroom.  The first time he had done this, Erik had argued with him saying he could take care of himself and didn’t need Charles holding his dick while he pissed.

‘It’s not like I haven’t had your dick in my hand before!’  Charles snarked at him. ‘It’s been in my mouth and ass, so holding it while you piss is not all that troublesome!’

Erik had snorted trying not to laugh as it hurt as much as everything else.  In the end, he’d given up letting Charles help.  He knew how difficult that was for Erik.

Once he got Erik settled onto the toilet, he prepped the shower, stripping out of his own clothes.  At least at home he could get into the shower with Erik.  The hospital had too many people coming and going, and the stall was too small.

The room began to fill with steam, as he stripped Erik out of his clothes.  He still couldn’t lift his arms over his head, so the button down sleep shirts would have to do for a while longer.  Charles steadied him while he got into the shower, both sighing at the feel of water against their skin.

He didn’t like how thin Erik had become, the man had an unnatural slim waist, and now he could see his hip bones, and he was pretty sure the image wasn’t sitting well with Erik either – too many bad memories.

Charles took his time in washing Erik’s hair and softly sponging him down.  At one point Erik looked down at him while Charles’ was on his knees, and smirked. “Such a wasted moment.”

Charles smiled, as his hands slid up his thighs, then gripped his hips.  He leaned forward kissing each hip, before leaning his forward against Erik’s stomach.  He didn’t realize he was crying until he felt Erik’s hands in his hair and soft voice in his head.

<<I’m still here Liebling.  I’m not that easy to get rid of.>>

<<I should be taking care of you, not bawling my eyes out in the shower.>>

<<Stand up so I can hold you.>>

Charles wiped away the tears along with the water.   He gave Erik a small smile, who pulled him into his arms, holding him close.  The two took comfort in each other, until the water started turning cold.  With a flick of his wrist Erik turned the water off, cringing slightly.

“Don’t do that.” Charles laid a hand on his chest, eyes on the dark staples against the pale skin.  “It’s only for a while longer.”

“It’s driving me to distraction.”  Erik growled.  “Think how it would be not to use yours.”

“There are times my friend, that would be a blessing.”  He moved them out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry them off.  “But I can understand.”

By the time they got out of the shower, and back into the bedroom Erik had to admit he felt better, he was now hungry and tired.

Hank had replaced the oxygen tank, and made up the bed to some degree.  He motioned towards the chair, where a tray was set with breakfast.  “I figured you would want to sit up and eat, feel a bit more human.”

Erik was going to make a snarky retort, but Charles pinched his arm as he helped him over to the chair, then gave him a look as he sat down.  “Thank You, Hank.”

“That hurt didn’t it.”  The younger mutant smirked, eyes filled with mirth.

“I’ll train you yet.” Erik gave Hank a half smile as he picked up the fork and dug into the eggs, he was really hungry.  He ignored Hank and Charles talking quietly as he finished off the toast, potatoes and grapefruit.  Without stopping the conversation, Charles handed him his medications along with a glass of water.  By the time he finished, he leaned back in the chair, head resting against the back feeling suddenly drowsy.

“Do you want to nap in the chair?”  Charles whispered softly next to him.  “I can wake you up in an hour, we can take a small walk in the garden, get you some exercise.”

“I feel like the family pet.”

“Only if I start petting you.”

“Could you, there are a few places I wouldn’t mind a rub…”

“Stop!”  Hank glared at the two of them.  “Charles you need to deal with Raven, she’s stalking the halls.  Let Erik rest, besides the kids are getting antsy to see him.”

Erik groaned and sunk further into the chair, he paused for a moment thinking back to the day before.  “Did Alex call me dad?”

“See, I told you they were our kids, darling.”  He kissed Erik on the forehead then stood up, smoothed down his shirt and made for the door.  He opened it with a flair of dramatic, and watched as Raven, stopped in the middle of the hall to face her brother.

He turned back around and took one last look at those he loved.  “For those of us who about to die, we salute thee.”  Charles held his head high as he stepped out of the room, to face his destiny.

The door slammed shut behind him.

“Better him than me.”  Erik muttered, as his eyes drifted shut, sleep claimed him once again.

“Amen.”  Hank couldn’t agree more, he was pretty sure it was safer in the room with a pissed of Magneto, than dealing with Raven at the moment.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

***

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.

Note: So who’s shocked there is already a sequel bunny running around for this??

***

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

***

Hank wasn’t sure exactly when Azazael would show up with Erik.  He had his room prepped, with an oxygen tank, blood pressure kit, an IV Drip line if needed, and stacks of bandages.  He wasn’t a medical doctor, but over the past week he had read everything he could get his hands on about chest surgery, what type of medications, pain killers, and after treatment.

He wasn’t sure what his feelings were on the whole thing.  They all had seen what had gone down on the beach, but no one knew what Erik was truly thinking, not even Charles.

Raven had been … still was … pissed at Charles.  Hank wasn’t sure if it was because he saved Erik or didn’t back him.

Alex and Sean were keeping their own counsel on the event.

Hank wasn’t sure why they were all in Erik’s room, he had asked Alex for help in case he needed some, which led to all of them being there.

He was pretty sure this wasn’t going to end well.

“A teammate who was willing to kill hundreds of innocent humans!”  Raven argued with Alex who was adamant that they all calm the fuck down, and be there for their teammate as he recovered.

“A teammate who stopped those innocent humans from killing us.”  He shrugged, not backing down.  “Hey I’m not saying he was right, I’m just pointing out he took a bullet to the chest to save Charles.  So give the man some slack.”

“He was ready to keep going with Shaw’s destruction.”  Moira entered the argument, which hadn’t really helped the situation.

Hank wasn’t even sure why she was in the room, seeing her was not going to help Erik … hell it was likely going to set him off, and if Charles wasn’t with them in the first pass that was going to be bad.

He wasn’t paid enough for this.
Wait he wasn’t even getting paid.

“Yet Shaw’s dead.”  Sean stood by Alex, backing his friend.  “Wasn’t that your goal?  Besides that bullet was yours.”

“Someone had to stop him!”  She glared at them, hands on her hips.

“Shooting metal bullets at a man who pulled a submarine out of the water.”  Janus spoke up from his seat on the couch, giving them all a look.  “Yeah that works.”

“Why are you even here?” She snapped at him.  “You were one of the enemy.”

“The enemy is the humans.”  He stood glaring at her.  “I might add they were willing to kill you, collateral damage and all.”

“Enough!”  Hank rubbed his forehead, growling slightly.  “At this moment we’ve gone over this a hundred times, and the answer is still the same.  Erik is recovering from a gunshot wound, and Charles is going to skin all of us with his mind if we don’t at least act civilized.”

“Well you know how mom gets about dad.”  Sean snorted shoving into Alex, who chucked.

“What?”  Raven glanced at the two snickering boys.

Alex laughed, only to frown.  “Oh come on.  They are so a married couple.”  He glanced over to see Moira’s horrified expression.  “So what you don’t like queers.  Yet you want to preach at us about how humans will accept mutants.  Who gives a flying shit their fucking.  Charles keeps Erik calm.”

“Charles isn’t fucking Erik!”  Raven yelled, blinking at the two of them.

“She’s kidding right?”  Sean glanced at Alex, who shrugged and they both looked at Hank, who held his hands up begging them not to get him involved.  “Charles has been by his side for days, like a concerned spouse.”

“Charles would do that for any of us!” She argued.

“Not hold our hands.”  Alex pointed out, with a smirk.  “Erik is the disciplinary, hard edge dad.  Charles is the sensitive we can sneak extra sweets from mom.  They work together.  They make us work together.  If we didn’t have them, we wouldn’t be here.  So if Erik found peace in Charles’ arms I’m not going to let anyone fuck that up.”  He stepped closer to Raven.  “I don’t really care if you’re his sister.”

“Charles flirts with women.” She stepped forward accepting the challenge.

“Oh please I know Charles darkest desire.”  Angel rolled her eyes, staring at the group.

She would admit it has been awkward as hell since Cuba, but she had nowhere else to go.  At this moment they all were just a ragtag bunch of misfits waiting for mom and dad to get home.

“Believe me it’s not cute miss CIA agent over here.  He likes them tall, ginger and in fishnet stockings.  And have you seen Erik’s package – woman I would pay to ride that big boy.  Charles’ is a lucky man.”

Sean snorted, giggling desperately against Alex, before he turned serious.  “Besides, he turned you down!”  He gave Raven an all knowing look.  He had seen her storm out of Erik’s room the night before Cuba, that wasn’t a woman who got laid, but one who got tossed out.  “Where do you think he spent the rest of that night?”

Hank glanced at Raven.

Alex shook his head, cringing at Sean’s bluntness.  “Awkward.”

“It’s like living a soap opera.”  Janos shook his head, watching the children argue.  “I’m so going to have to tell Azazael…”

“… to suck!”  Erik’s voice rang through the room, when the two landed.  He cringed in pain, falling against the taller mutant.

Azazel gripped him closer, looking over at Hank.  “Bed now.”

“Let’s move him…” Hank moved past Azazeal, taking Erik’s arm grateful that the mutant wasn’t fighting him.

He wasn’t sure what he expected, but what he saw wasn’t it.

Erik had lost weight, a lot of weight and he hadn’t had much to spare.  The pajama bottoms hung on his narrow hips, and the button down shirt, showed parts of the red ugly line down his chest.  His face was pale with dark circles under the eyes, and his body was shaking uncontrollably.   He was a man who was barely standing after being at death’s door only a week ago.

“I got him.”  Hank’s voice was soft as he used his new strength to help Erik to the bed.

The room began to shake.

Everyone looked around, hands reaching out, only to realize it wasn’t the room, but every piece of metal in it.

They looked at Erik’s who dark pained filled gaze was staring at Moira.  A lamp shifted, along with pens, a tray and a small knife was yanked out of Janus’ boot.

Alex stepped in front of him, hands up. “You need to calm down, dad.”

In less than a blink, Charles stood between Erik and everyone else.

All the bags he was carried fell to the ground, he stepped forward, cupping Erik’s cheek.  <<I need you to calm down.>>

<<She’s here!  The woman shot at you and has the audacity to be here!>>

Charles choked back his own emotions, as he laid a hand on Erik’s chest.  <<Darling you’re hurting yourself…please.>>

Erik cried out from the pain in his chest as the metal staples and wires pulled.  He gasped, and everything fell to the floor, as he sagged against Hank.

“Everyone out!”  Charles’ snarled, not even looking at the occupants.  “Hank help me get him into bed.”

Hank nodded, ignoring the tears he saw running down Erik’s cheeks, as he gasped for air.  Charles without thinking kicked off his shoes and moved into the bed with Erik, holding him close, soothing him as they worked to get his breathing under control.

He backed out of the room, followed closely by Azazael.   He would give them a few moments, and then talk to Charles about Erik’s care, but right now he figured they all needed to calm down.

He closed the door and looked at the group.  They were all staring at him, waiting for something he wasn’t sure what.  With a smirk, he looked at them and said the only thing he could think of. “Mom’s getting dad to calm down, once we’re sure he won’t kill anyone with a pen we’ll set up a time for the kids to visit.”

Alex snorted, choking on his laughter that sounded a bit like a sob.  Sean crossed himself, sending up prayers for both of them, wondering if there was a Patron Saint of Mutants.  Raven rolled her eyes, but sagged in a relief.  Angel nodded, walking away with Janus who gave a head tilt to Azazael who nodded in return.

Hank noticed instantly that Moira wasn’t there.

He sighed as his own thoughts churned.  He had no idea what the next step was, but he knew he was going to stick around to find out.  Though a part of him felt as if they missed the proverbial bullet … with his own humorless snort he couldn’t help think – because it hit Erik instead.

 

Note: There maybe at times, inconsistencies with previous parts – this would be because I’m writing this as I go … and then edit and adjust things down the road.  Once it’s done, edited and reposted all of it will come together.

***

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

***

“Erik No!”

Charles had only stepped outside the room, for thirty minutes.

The Head Nurse had assured him, that she would make sure Erik was ready to leave.  She adored Erik, and had practically adopted him these last few days.  She was always gentle with him, helped him sit up, showed him how to hold his chest while he coughed.  Had talked him through his breathing fits.

And after the one time she talked him out of a nightmare, ignoring the shaking metal railings. He had been tempted to kidnap her.

Charles had gone to the Administration Offices, to make sure he had everything they needed for Erik to be discharged, and pay his bill.  He had discovered that despite everything that was being said about Cuba, their health system was slowly developing into one much like the one he had seen while at Oxford.

Instead of a bill, he had been handed over a packet of material for Erik’s rehabilitation:  restrictions, breathing exercises, physical therapy, medications, treatment for the surgical incision, and a half dozen other important documents.

After picking up a bag full of medications, extra bandages and supplies he made his way back to the room.  Azazael was due to arrive in the next few moments.  The plan was for the teleporter to take Erik first, into the waiting arms of Hank.  Charles would make sure the staff thought they had helped Erik out to the front to a cab, before he was ‘zapped’ home.

He was looking forward to going home.

He wasn’t looking forward to what was waiting for him.

Despite the stress and panic he felt every time Erik gasped for a breath, the past five days had been pleasantly calm.  The two were content in their silence.

Charles was sure they would be back to bickering soon enough, and it would seem Erik wasn’t going to wait until they got back to New York.

“Where is Ester?”   He stalked into the room glaring at the sitting up patient, who wasn’t supposed to be sitting up without help.  “You were supposed to wait for me!”

“She went to get me a wheelchair.”  Erik glared, breathing hard hand clutching at his chest.  Just sitting up, and moving his legs over the edge of the bed had worn him out.  “I refused to be carried by Azazael like a bride on her wedding night back to the manor.”

“You make a lovely bride.”  The teleporter gave his burgeoning friend a smirk.   He had popped in and out over the past few days, enjoying startling Charles and snarking off at Erik.

Erik glanced over at Charles a slight smirk on his face.  “Charles prefers me in blue.”

He stared at the two of them, with a confused expression.  Until he felt Erik push an image of himself, in a blue dress with fishnet stalkings ….  “She told you!?”  Charles blushed, and then laughed lightly as he ducked his head.

“I always thought maroon was more my color.”  Erik chuckled only to cough.  “Okay let’s do this.”

He stood on shaky legs, hand gripping the hospital bed.  He bit back the groan, from the pain that shot through his whole body.  ‘Suck it up Erik, you’ve had worse.’

<<You don’t have to be strong all the time.>>

<<I can’t be weak.>>

Charles touched his cheek.  <<You’re the strongest person I know.>>

Erik reached out, taking Charles’ hand gripping it tightly.  <<Don’t let go.>>

“Never.”  He helped him move away from the bed, and closer to the teleporter.

Azazael wrapped his left arm around Erik, stepping closer to him.  He then took his right hand, into his own, the tail wrapped around his shoulder tapping Erik on the shoulder.

“Well I always knew I would end up dancing with the devil.”  He leaned into the taller mutant.

“You would take over hell, my friend.”  Azazael glanced over to Charles.  “I’ll be back in a few moments, so be prepared.

Charles nodded, stepping back almost everything he had was packed and ready to go. He just needed to shove all the paperwork and bag of meds into the duffle.

“Oh this is going … ”

And they were gone.

Note: I have an idea of where I’m going with this but no idea how I’m getting there

***

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

***

Erik was resting once again.

The doctor had removed the respirator  from his throat, Charles was thankful it was made of plastic, or the situation would have gone a lot worse, than the side rail of the bed being bent.  They made sure he had plenty of oxygen, checked the incision to make sure it was healing and no infections were settling in.

The doctor informed him, that Erik would need weeks to months of recovery.

His lungs were weak and would need to build back up to normal capacity.  He would need to be careful in the future of infections.  A simple chest cold could set him back in recovery.  At the moment simple movement would cause loss of breath, and he would need to take things slowly.

The chest muscles would take time to heal, and Erik would need help with sitting up until the muscles strengthened.

Charles had kept a straight face, taking in all the information and pulling more from the doctor’s mind.  What worried him was the fact, Erik had eight staples in his chest muscles, and about two feet of wire wrapped around his sternum.

This wasn’t going to end well, he could feel it.

He had asked when it was possible for him to take Erik home.  The doctor gave him a look, as if Charles was insane, though he was pretty sure he was.  He was told under no circumstances was Erik to leave the hospital for another five days, and would need care afterwards.  Again re-iterating everything he had already told Charles.  Adding in the history of conducting open heart surgery and the fact that Erik was alive was a miracle and not push his recovery.

Charles calmed him down by explaining he had a place quiet away from everything where Erik could recover, plus a doctor on staff.  It was only then the doctor agreed he could leave the hospital in five days.

What Charles didn’t mention was that his place was in New York, and they would be using a teleporter mutant to get home.  He figured it would be painful and uncomfortable for Erik but only a few short minutes compared to a plane ride.

And the way the news was going on about sanctions against Cuba he wasn’t even sure he would be able to get out of the country.  Considering he had no passport, documents or proof of who they were.

Last thing he wanted to do was alert the CIA to where they were.  He had a feeling the only reason he hadn’t had the ‘Men in Black’ in Erik’s hospital room was Azazael hadn’t told anyone where they were at, and was watching Moira.

A selfish part of him wanted to find a place in Cuba and hide Erik away from everything.  Including the rants Charles was going to hear from Raven, and Hank’s ‘I don’t approve stare’.

Erik was meant to be by his side, as he was meant to by his.

When he would even take a moment to think of the two of them separated dread filled him, not just for himself but for the world.

“When can I leave?”

It was still disconcerting to hear such a soft quiet tone from Erik.  The man was blunt, forceful, cold, serious, not quiet or weak.  Charles glanced at the bed, watching Erik watch him.  He hadn’t mentioned the fact Charles hadn’t let go of his hand, and the few times he had tried to pull it away, Erik had held tighter.

“A few more days.”  He shifted until he was leaning against the bed.  “They want to make sure you are more stable, and no infecitons.”

He took a few short breathes, struggling to cough.  Charles grabbed a small cup from the table … the second one they’ve had, he won’t mention what happened to the first after Erik woke up from a particular nasty nightmare … he helped him sit up and put some of the ice chips into his mouth.

“What is in my chest?”

Charles tried to bluff his way around it, but the mutant’s eyes narrowed, and the fifth pen ended up embedded into the wall.  Erik closed his eyes as pain shot through him, he gasped for air forcing Charles to shove the oxygen mask back onto his face.  <<Calm your mind.>>

<<I was shot you asshole.>>

Charles bit back the smirk, last thing he wanted to do was encourage Erik’s bad behavior.  He already knew it was going to be hell on earth, during his recovery.

<<Steady breathes.  Relax your chest.  Don’t tense.>>

<<I hate you so much.>>

But he followed Charles’ instructions, slowly calming down as he breathing regulated.  “I feel the metal Charles.”

“You have staples holding the muscles together, and a wire sealing up the bone.”

“I want them out.”

“They are holding your chest together!”  He would not back down on this.  He wasn’t the one who sat outside, watching as doctors worked to save his life.  “The staples can be removed in six weeks.  Hank can do the surgery.”  Charles ignored Erik’s snort.  “The wires … it would be best if you limited using your powers until you’re fully healed.”

“So if Hank is doing this surgery when do we go home? If I’m still welcome.”

Charles knew his expression softened at the word ‘home’.  He probably had a sappy look on his face, if Erik’s roll of the eyes was any indication.

“In five days Erik, we will go home.  Where you will do everything the doctor says.  You will not push your limits.  You will rest.  You will ask for help.  You will listen to me!”