❝ but I'm down to one last breath, and with it let me say, let me say... ❞

[arethebettermen]

Who: arethebettermen, screamsup and the First Class + people staying in the mansion
What: The mansion's defenses fall. Monsters, chaos.
Where: X-Mansion
When: 9/23; Day 5 (Friday "Night")
Warnings: CHARACTER DEATH. Also blood, violence, and heartbreak. Lots of it.

Comments

2/2

[raventakeflight]

But of course there was little reason for Raven to rush when it was so very obvious to anyone else just what had happened to make such a strong mental link abruptly disappear. Not that she was at all listening to logic at a time like this. Not when her heart was beating anxiously in her ears and her stomach felt twisted into a million different knots. Not when she absolutely and immediately had to know what had happened to Charles Xavier.

The only female mutant of the group finally arrived last onto the bloody, gruesome scene within a few excruciatingly long minutes, her yellow eyes glazing over as the woman fully took in Sean's wounded appearance before flickering right over to--

Her brother's lifeless corpse.

It was likely a strange sight to spy at first. Raven, drenched in dark blood that was mostly not her own, stood absolutely frozen in place in the middle of the room, those strange eyes of hers widened to the size of saucers but were completely unfocused as the realization hit her.

Charles was gone.

Her family was dead.

She'd been too late.

With a defeated whimper and a violent tremor across her blue features, Raven fell like a rock to the floor at her brother's side instantaneously, wrapping her arms around his body as she curled up against him. The woman clung with all of her mutant strength to the man who had been her only friend and family for so long, the first person to ever love and accept her for who she was. And between brutal shaking sobs, she called out to him heartbreakingly, as if her simple plea may be enough to bring him back from the dead.

Charles! Charles! Come back to me! Please! CHARLES!!

[screamsup]

Sean let her have him, letting go of Charles without so much as a sound or speaking to Raven at all. He could only sit still, trembling in pain, as he watched her cry. He keeps quiet still, sitting back to take everything in for once, to just breathe. Raven had the right to do this, even if he didn't know what to do about it.

After a few moments of silence had passed, besides Raven's pleas for life again, Sean reaches his good arm to rest a hand on her back in comfort. He didn't know if he should pull her away, or if he should just let her .... do what she wanted to.

Raven.

His voice is soft at first, quiet and unknowing, because he doesn't know the pain that she feels. If she pushed him away, he would probably just let her. He didn't have the energy to fight against strength he doesn't have now.

Raven, please.

[raventakeflight]

Unfortunately, Raven was a little too far gone to listen to Sean's soft pleading. That distant yellow gaze of hers was fixed far too intently on Charles and only Charles, her strong grip on him tight and relentless. She doesn't necessarily push her wounded comrade away from her or lash out at his failure to keep her brother alive (not knowing the situation, it might have seemed a possibility), but she doesn't give him any reaction at all at first. Minutes pass by, the female mutant huddled over the body while she sobbed until the tears finally stopped flowing at all.

It was only then that she pushed out a tiny reply, her face turned away from Sean still.

I was too late.

[screamsup]

Sean was expecting some kind of anger coming from Raven, mostly at him, but he knew it wasn't all of his fault. If only he knew how to fight with more than just a scream. Physical strength would come in handy, he knew it would, but he didn't have that much. The only reason he could defeat the reanimati was because he was scared out of his mind and he wouldn't give up until it was dead.

It's not your fault, Raven.

[raventakeflight]

At least this experience has provided the mutants with a much clearer idea of just what to expect from this dream world in the future. And next time, they would be much better prepared for the battles ahead. No one would ever die again if they all learned from this mistake.

Finally allowing herself to unravel from Charles, though she doesn't make any move to wipe the wetness off of her cheeks, Raven's yellow gaze moved to Sean, a concerned frown finally smoothing onto her strange features.

You're hurt...

And with something to focus on besides the cooling body at her side, Raven moved forward immediately to rest a gentle, blue hand on Sean's shoulder.

[screamsup]

Sean doesn't move away from Raven's touch, he doesn't move in general. He continues to sit, still in partial shock, lost in thought. He at least looks at Raven, so that's a good sign. It feels good to have someone care for him, there was always something about a woman's touch when they were comforting people that just made everything better. She cared, that's what mattered.

I'll be okay.

Even though his arm is probably broken and he looks pretty messed up. At least he's awake and functioning.

[raventakeflight]

You will be once you've been looked over.

As much blood had been spilled, Raven can at least see that much. A broken arm would be painful and take a long recovery, but at least Sean would survive. That was what was most important.

Can you move?

Raven would really rather not stay in this room any longer. She needed to get away from here and fast.

[screamsup]

Yeah, I can. And .. you're okay?

Raven didn't look hurt to him, at least, but she didn't look okay either. He didn't really plan on going to a doctor or getting help from anyone, because he didn't want to go out into ... well, all of the destruction and mayhem.

[raventakeflight]

The strange blood splattered over her uniform most definitely wasn't hers, so the young woman just gave a firm nod before moving to help her comrade up to his feet. Raven may not have too much practice in healing others, but between her and Alex and whoever else was in the Mansion, they could get Sean taken care of and out of danger.

Come on, let's get out of here.

[screamsup]

Sean nods, carefully raising himself to his feet. He was shaken up and paranoid about whatever else could be making its way towards them or around the mansion, but he was strong, and he wouldn't let that take over his mind. Standing straight, he feels a little better, more blood rushing to his brain to wake him up, but that also meant more pain.

Ow -- where're we gonna go?