XMFC/Rebuilding Cerebro

[guideshapelead]

Charles is busy at work in his office, trying to finalise plans for turning the mansion into the school that's become his dream, when a knock comes at his door. Sensing for who his visitor is, the professor smiles when he recognises the feel of Hank's mind.

"Come on in," he calls, smiling up at his friend in the doorway. "Do you bring me good news?"

"I do." What passes for a smile crosses Beast's face. "I've finished all my tests. Cerebro is fully functional, once again, and the reach should be even greater than it was before."

"Wonderful, Hank, thank you!" Charles is already moving away from his desk, not wanting to waste another moment. He wants to test the device, right now. If it really is ready, then he and Erik can start their recruitment drive once again. They can have their school.

//Cerebro is ready// he sends the message to Erik before following Hank from his office, trusting his lover to meet them there.

Comments

[diecastking]

Erik glances up at their wall clock, trying to rein in his panic. "Three o'clock. Charles, do you know who I am?"

[guideshapelead]

Nodding that he does, Charles grimaces at the way his body is aching.

"My head's... fuzzy." He can't come up with a more eloquent explanation, right now.

[diecastking]

Erik is suddenly frightened for Charles' magnificent mind. What about his telepathy? What if that contraption has burned out his mutation forever?

"It was Cerebro," he says quietly. "You had a seizure."

[guideshapelead]

"Cerebro..." Charles struggles to remember, but the whole day seems to have been wiped from his mind. He can't think straight, at all, in fact all he really wants to do is go back to sleep.

"I ache," he admits, hearing Erik's explanation and realising that it makes sense with how he now feels. He's not got the brain power to react with any emotion, however.

[diecastking]

Erik kicks off his shoes and crawls over Charles, slipping under the covers and drawing his lover into his arms.

"You'll be fine. Get some rest. I'm not going anywhere."

[guideshapelead]

"Erik? Professor?" Hank's voice is accompanied by a knock on the door, his blue face appearing as the door opens a crack.

"How are you doing?"

[diecastking]

Erik glances up at the intrusion and beckons Hank inside.

"He's lost his memory of today. He's very tired."

He keeps his voice level, non-judgemental. Charles does not need to see them fight right now.

[guideshapelead]

"I'm not surprised," Hank nods, letting himself further into the room and perching on the bed at Charles' side.

"Cerebro overloaded your brain," he explains simply to the Professor. He understands that the genius intellect of the other man is currently out of service.

"I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

[diecastking]

Erik grits his teeth and struggles to calm his mind. "You will disable it until we know more about the consequences."

Erik isn't letting Charles anywhere near that machine without a few iron-clad guarantees.

[guideshapelead]

Charles can't remember using Cerebro, but Erik and Hank are giving him the same story, and he has no reason not to trust either of them.

"It's too important," he declares in a mumble, half asleep against Erik's side. "Did I find anyone?"

"One set of coordinates, yes," Hank admits.

[diecastking]

Erik can't help the thrill he feels at finding another mutant - and the immediate rush of guilt at the feeling, when Charles could've died.

"You will be running more tests before another attempt." It's not a question - Charles is going nowhere near that thing until Erik is convinced it's safer.

Erik kisses Charles' temple. "We'll find him when you're well."

[guideshapelead]

"It was a she," Charles says, some snatch of memory coming back to him even as his eyes start to close again.

[diecastking]

"We'll find her," Erik promises, watching Charles start to doze off again.

And then he catches sight of Baby Scott in the doorway. "Mausi?"

[guideshapelead]

"I'll leave him to rest," Hank offers guiltily, before beating a hasty retreat.

"Alex said Daddy's sick," Scott informs Erik, eyes wide and scared looking.

[diecastking]

Erik takes one hand off Charles to beckon Scott forward.

"He is, mausi. He'll feel better once he's had a rest. If you're still and quiet, you can take your nap up here with us."

[guideshapelead]

Scrambling up onto the bed, Scott looks at Charles with a horrified face. He's not used to his protectors looking the slightest bit vulnerable.

"Hello Scott," Charles mumbles, still semi-conscious.

[diecastking]

"Daddy, what's wrong?" Scott says, high-pitched and on the verge of tears.

Erik rubs the boy's back, as he does the same for Charles. "Quiet voice, mausi. Daddy has a headache."

[guideshapelead]

Too tired to do so much as open his eyes, Charles gropes blindly in the direction of the little boy's voice, trying to find a hand to hold or an arm to pat.

It's the best he can offer, right now.

[diecastking]

Erik rolls carefully onto his back, bringing Charles with him to lie against his side. Scooping Scott up with his other arm, he lets the child sprawl on his chest, before bringing Charles' searching hand to Scott's hair.

"Now, we're all going to sleep," Erik says firmly. He wants both members of his family to rest.

[guideshapelead]

Charles is like a ragdoll, no energy left at all, and moves compliantly with Erik as they roll. He doesn't even think to argue when his lover suggests sleep, doesn't want to, his body already 90% of the way there.

He's never felt so exhausted.

[diecastking]

Scott stretches forward and kisses his Daddy's nose, before settling down to sleep against Erik's chest.

Erik stares at the ceiling, cradling his boys close and watching over them while they sleep.