XMFC/Cerebro: Take Two

[guideshapelead]

Charles is bored. The last week, he's been almost unbearable with it, pushing everyone to almost impossible lengths in their training to try and find something to work on. He wants to be recruiting, wants to start putting his vision of a school into action.

But he also knows what needs to happen in order for that dream to become reality. And whilst he'll happily go back to Cerebro - he'll take epilepsy over boredom any day - he also knows Erik will be terrified by the idea.

He's on the verge of talking to Hank privately, to ask for another session without Erik's knowledge, when memories of the day he'd been left alone with Scott come back to the forefront of his mind. He'd promised his lover there would be no secrets between them, and he doesn't want to break his promise.

And so here he is, hovering at the edge of the Danger Room where he knows Erik is working with Alex. His intention is to catch his lover when they finish training, to talk to him when he'll most likely be in a good mood.

Comments

[diecastking]

Charles may be a highly skilled telepath, but Erik is so very close to him and he knows when Charles is deliberately keeping something from him. He knows he's hurt Charles with his accusation, however well-intentioned, but he isn't sure how to make it up to him - apart from letting him at Cerebro with the minimum of fuss.

Nodding at Hank, Erik is willing to follow where Charles leads, trying to quiet his hammering heart.

[guideshapelead]

//I'll be okay// Charles tries to reassure Erik as he follows Hank back into the hollow sphere. He has almost no memory of his last adventure here.

He wastes no time in reaching for the headgear, bringing it down over his head. He's more nervous than he's letting on, and he'd rather get this over and done with.

[diecastking]

Erik panics at how quickly this is moving and kneels in front of Charles' chair, reaching up to take his lover's hand.

He's ready to catch him if he falls, ready to tear apart the machine if it hurts Charles again.

[guideshapelead]

"Ready?" Hank checks, already over by the console, one flick of a button away from amplifying Charles' power across the country.

[diecastking]

Erik is terrified, but wraps his hands around Charles'.

//Are you?//

[guideshapelead]

"Ready," Charles answers both men, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes as the machine flickers into life.

The surge of power is far more like what he remembers from the very first time, back when they'd found Alex, Darwin, Angel and Sean. He can control it, this time, opening his mind to the mutuant gene and letting visions fill his mind. Vaguely, in the very back of his mind, he can register the sounds of Cerebro, madly scribbling down coordinates.

It's working.

[diecastking]

Erik releases a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding, but doesn't relinquish his grip on Charles' hand. He promised he would stay and that's exactly what he'll do.

[guideshapelead]

Charles pushes himself to his limit, this time safe in control of Cerebro's power. By the time Hank powers down the machine, he's seen the faces of several children.

Several future students.

[diecastking]

It's been two hours since Charles delved into the depths of Cerebro but Erik hasn't moved from his spot at Charles' side. He can no longer feel his feet, but it's worth it to see the look on Charles' face.

"Good hunting, liebe?"

[guideshapelead]

Leaning forwards, Charles rests his hands against the console, taking a moment to catch his breath. He feels exhausted, like he's run a marathon, but he also doesn't feel like he's about to start convulsing at any moment.

"I saw them," he finally manages speech. "So... there are so many of them."

[diecastking]

While Erik is pleased that Charles is happy, he's only concerned with just how tired his lover looks.

"And now you need to rest," he says firmly, struggling to his feet and pushing Charles' chair towards the exit and then the drawing room.

[guideshapelead]

"This school could be bigger than even I imagined," Charles continues to prattle on as he's pushed to the drawing room.

"There are so many children out there, and they'll need our help."

[diecastking]

Charles' enthusiasm is infectious and Erik lays a warm hand on his shoulder as he propels him into the drawing room.

"Yes, liebe. We will help them. But now you're going to lie down."

Erik lifts Charles out of his chair and holds him close, savouring the feeling of him in his arms. He's so happy that Charles is all right.

[guideshapelead]

After two hours plugged into Cerebro, Charles is utterly exhausted, and he lets himself be lifted up out of his chair without complaint. Resting his head against Erik's shoulder, he closes his eyes with a smile still on his lips.

"To think we all once thought we were alone in the world."

[diecastking]

Erik sets Charles down on the sofa before crawling over him and settling on his chest, pulling him close. "We never have to be alone again."

[guideshapelead]

Hands finding the sides of Erik's face, Charles pulls him into a long and passionate kiss. He's full to bursting with excitement, the children of his dream school no more just a fantasy in his mind. He's seen them, now, knows their faces and names. He knows that one day they'll develop amazing abilities, and he and Erik will be there to help them realise their full potential.

[diecastking]

Erik meets Charles' lips eagerly, sinking into the sofa and absently shutting and locking the door with his power.

Finally, the need for oxygen overcomes his need to kiss Charles and he's breathless and dizzy and helplessly, hopelessly in love.

"I can't wait to meet our children," he says.

[guideshapelead]

"We need to consider how to bring them here," Charles is thinking out loud now, thoughts racing through his mind. Bringing the boys under their care had been one thing; they were teenagers, and capable of making their own decisions. This time they're talking young children, who will have parents and extended families who will be ultimately responsible for their loved one's schooling.

[diecastking]

Erik lies back down, settling against Charles' shoulder. "We need to be honest with them. They need to know who their children are."

[guideshapelead]

"You know I'd like nothing more than for it to be that easy, Erik," Charles sighs, one hand setting at the back of Erik's head as he stares up at the ceiling.

"But can it really be that way? I don't want to destroy families."

[diecastking]

Erik struggles to be soothed by Charles' fingers, but he can't let that lie.

"Destroy? Any parent that doesn't love their child, regardless of whether they shoot fire from their eyes or sprout wings at night, doesn't deserve that child."

[guideshapelead]

"I fear it will be the more common reaction," Charles warns, sure that his own parents would not have had the most positive of reactions to his telepathy. He'd never mentioned it to them.

"My parents never knew of my abilities."

[diecastking]

Erik feels his throat close. "I never had the chance to tell my father."

[guideshapelead]

Stroking his fingers softly through Erik's hair, Charles tries to think of a compromise. He knows he and Erik have very different ideologies, when it comes to general knowledge of the mutant race.

"Perhaps we shall have to consider it on an individual basis," he eventually offers. No set ruling, one way or another.

[diecastking]

Erik smiles against Charles' neck. "This is why I love you."