Who:
arethebettermen,
bitchimmagneto,
raventakeflight (CLOSED)
What: Bittersweet reunion of Charles, Erik and Raven.
Where: The Xavier Mansion
When: 8/02; Day
Warnings: SPOILERS for X-M:FC if you still haven't seen it and have somehow managed not to be spoiled already. May induce tearjerking, laughter, rage, and heartbreaking. Please, consult your doctor before reading this. Not suitable for
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He stood there, mouth opened slightly, eyes wide with surprise despite himself. There was no hiding it. Charles didn't even need to be in his head to see the apologetic look that flashed over his features.
There was no point in addressing it verbally, no point in subjecting Raven to the apologies that would be nothing but words without meaning. There was nothing he could do about any of it. He couldn't take it back and if he had to be perfectly honest...he wouldn't. That day on the beach was monumental, everything had been played out like a game of chess. If one move had been altered everything could have been drastically different. Everything.
"It wasn't difficult," he said, folding his arms over his chest and ignoring the look on the telepath's face when he glared at the helmet, "You were predictably where I thought you would be," since Charles was always in the damn study. He didn't make a move yet, assuming Raven would be the one to bridge any gaps between them and her brother.
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Barely a moment after that startling, single word fell from her gaping mouth, Raven was flying across the room to Charles, kneeling without any hesitation at her brother's side. A blue hand moves rather thoughtlessly to his knee, another to cup his cheek as those yellow eyes of hers hold steady onto his gaze. Just try and escape that horrified expression on her familiar face now. Though the girl has been hurt many times throughout her life, usually by those she'd ended up caring for the most, it has likely been a very, very long time since her closest friend had seen this kind of a reaction from her. Even their final night at the Xavier Mansion before Cuba paled in comparison today.
Sorry, boys, but this still emotional young woman just couldn't hold back her overwhelming feelings nearly as expertly as either of you two can. Especially considering just how terrible this particular revelation was, that Erik had, accidentally of course, paralyzed her brother for life.
"Charles..." she started again, much softer and more troubled this time. That brief outburst of surprise was certainly gone by now. And as for that terribly normal talk between Erik and Charles? No, no, no. Raven couldn't bring herself to do anything but completely ignore that illusion of casual conversation between both men. How could speaking of anything else but this be right in this situation?
But...Just what does she say?
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His eyes turned to his sister, staring at her yellow eyes with a small smile forming on his face. He honestly couldn't think of the words to express how much he had missed her. Four weeks in the hospital, then returning to the mansion with Moira to remember she wasn't there waiting for him was... it was harder than having to erase Moira's memories. There wouldn't be a young woman, red hair and blue skinned, or fair skin and blond hair, bouncing down the halls of the mansion with news that excited her. While Sean, Hank and Alex had been there, it wasn't like having the woman he grew up with there beside him. Having to remind himself about that just made his eyes water. He closed them, pushing the emotions to the side, just as he always did. That was how he ended up in such heated arguments with Tony and Noah.
"I'm fine, Raven. I promise." He said, even though it wasn't the whole entire truth. But, when it came to being paralyzed? He was fine. He wasn't upset about it. The ill feelings towards Erik didn't come from the accidental bullet to his spine.
Charles forced a smile on his face. "You're naked," he turned his head slightly to address Erik, "and that looks absolutely ridiculous. The pair of you leave and make the worst attire choices in the history of mutant kind."
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He knew he was trying to joke, or at least make light of the situation, but Erik also knew why Charles didn't like the helmet and it wasn't because it looked ridiculous. He hated it because he couldn't see into his mind and it was a symbol of mistrust. Granted, he had said he didn't trust the man outright that day, but who was to say he didn't trust him at all? He was his friend, his confidant. They weren't fighting a war right now.
"She's beautiful," he would reiterate time and time again, "How she rightfully should be. There's no need for her to hide and you of all people should understand what I mean," he glanced to the side with a sigh, "A shame you weren't around to give your opinion on our fashion choices earlier."
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Those few words to very little to comfort her. Charles was fine? Well, the blue woman certainly didn't believe that story in the slightest, but again, it would wait until later when they were alone. It was way too difficult to ask about with Erik around and Raven had no intentions of hurting him by thoughtlessly inquiring about it. No, it would come later.
Besides, if it was as difficult to leave here as the current residents seemed to believe, Raven and Charles had plenty of time for a proper reunion later.
"As if you've ever had much of a fashion sense in the first place, Charles." With a teasing smile, though that hint of sadness at his situation was still difficult to fully push away, she stood up to press a kiss to his cheek.
"Is everything still in the same place as always? The kitchen hasn't moved?"
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"Everything is as it was. Though, one of the vases is broken. One of mother's favorites. I simply haven't bothered to fix it yet." Charles said as he pushed himself away from the desk, motioning for them to move to the kitchen. It was a comfort zone when it came to Raven, because that was where they met. Then he looked back to Erik. "Hiding and modesty are different, Erik." Although he knew there was no point in asking Raven to dress, which was why the last comment was tacked on playfully.
"We should move to the kitchen. Even if this is a dream, we still need to eat."
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"And what would you have chosen if not a cape, Charles? Do enlighten us as to what I should be wearing," he rolled his eyes a bit as the man wheeled past him, averting his gaze and trying his best not to stare at the wheelchair because it hurt and he hated it. They were on opposing teams now and he felt so bad for the man he once called a friend. Hell, they were still friends. ...Sort of.
He walked behind him, saying nothing more on the matter and folding his arms over his chest. If Charles could read his mind he would know that there was too much going on in there for him to form into a proper sentence at the moment.
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Her attention, however, jumped away from the talk of broken vases and bad fashion choices at the mention of a single word. Dream.
Her gaze focused on Charles, taking in his expression. "You weren't joking about this all being a dream, were you?" It was ridiculous sounding and just plain stupid, but Raven had always been able to tell when the man was playfully joking around and when he was being dead serious.
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"A friend of mine here in the city." Charles answered Raven's inquiry as he rolled himself into the kitchen. Noah at least had some rather good AIM as she was blundering about the mansion unable to feel anything. "I was completely serious, Raven. Did you not see the mirror?"
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He lifted a brow up, "Why am I not surprised you're already making friends, Charles? Is that really wise in a city like this?" well, probably. Making friends would be better than making enemies considering they were all stuck here.
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"And yes, I heard quite a bit about the various friends you've already made here." But somehow, she'd completely missed any and all word of whoever this Noah girl was. No doubt she would find out soon enough.
She flashed a smile to Erik, showing the man she hadn't forgotten about him. "Erik and I spoke to quite a few of them already. There are already more mutants here than I would have expected." Granted, there were also some perverts that she'd much rather avoid...
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He gave a gesture for them to take a seat at the table. It was an unspoken way of making themselves comfortable. "Erik, please. Remove that bloody helmet. It's ridiculous."
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Then his attention was drawn back to Charles and he took a seat at the familiar table, keeping his face as stoic as possible without letting the overbearing emotions weigh him down. It was painfully obvious in his eyes though, that something was bothering him, "How is that any different then? That one young girl I spoke to, Rapunzel, said that humans had been cruel to her, just as they are to us. Should we not look at her as one of our own? If only because she is different and has faced the hardships we still have to deal with regularly?"
Reluctantly he lifted his hands up, slowly pulling the helmet from his head and setting it down on the table. Call it a silent truce between them for the time being, or call it pure respect for his friend. Whatever it may have been, he did it.
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As Erik surprisingly removed that unique helmet of his and made himself comfortable at the kitchen table, Raven knew for a fact that Charles would respect the privacy of his friend, just as he had always so kindly done for her. He was too honest of a man to betray their trust like that.
And oh please, Professor Xavier. Raven has spent more than enough time in this kitchen to feel completely at ease. She waved the man in the wheelchair towards the kitchen table to join his friend. "What can I get you both? Tea? Something to eat?"
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Then his eyes settled on the removed helmet. He somehow managed to keep his face expressionless, even if he felt nothing but disdain for the item. It wasn't that it blocked his telepathy, it was what it stood for in his mind: distrust. He understood the need for the helmet, after all there were telepaths such as Emma Frost, or even in the city ones that Erik shouldn't be opening his mind to. But still, it was the comment that had come before him putting the helmet on his head. 'But I don't trust you.' He had told Erik that he wouldn't make him stay, why would Erik feel as if the bloody thing was needed?
Charles shifted uncomfortably before daring to look up at his best friend. He could feel Erik's mind again but purposely kept away from it, just as he had with Raven. It made him feel alone in that manner that only telepaths did, and his fingers curled on the arms of his wheelchair slightly. It was clear the two men had things to talk about but were holding them off for the sake of the blue woman in the kitchen.
"Mutants can be cruel to each other just as much as humans can be cruel to us or to each other. That is something the both of you must remember."
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