[Fic] Broken Bride
Warnings: OOC/AU
Rating: NC-17 for later violence and sex. (PG this chapter.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Including Broken Bride by Ludo and X-men. Sadly.
Summary: An accident in 1989 has claimed the life of Erik’s beloved. Driven by grief, he creates a machine to take him back to that time. Based off of Ludo’s CD Broken Bride. Please support the band.
I posted a fic previously but had a link offsite. I know most people dont enjoy that so hop over to http://kinziek.livejournal.com/12097.html to read my last X-Men ficlet. Enjoy this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE I cant stress the LOVE part enough, comments. I want to hear what you all think and I love crits too.
Chapter 1: Morning in May
Erik wiped the sweat from his forehead and stared at the monster Beast had created for him. He was grateful Hank had been willing to do this, and ran a hand over the smooth, cold metal. He put his cheek against it and listened to the metal itself, feeling what needed to be tightened or loosened and what didn’t belong.
Hank stood back and watched.
“Erik…”
“Shhh.”
“Erik, this is not a good idea. You’re not young anymore; I can’t guarantee this machine will be able to go when you need it to.”
The silver haired Magneto glared up. He was just as capable as he had always been, and while he was getting on in years, he could not let his partner keep his fate. He stood back from the machine and lifted himself into the air, watching the wiring and making sure everything was where it needed to be, as he had done with the machine itself. Hank watched with a sad look on his face. The poor man before him had spent 15 years on this project, refusing to give up.
Everyone knew that the man had been haunted all these years over this. He would often awake in a fit, unable to control his powers, shaking the wiring and lamps within the mansion. What they didn’t know is what caused these exactly.
When Erik shut his eyes, he could see it. The grave in the garden that Charles had been buried in. He would slowly climb inside and clutch his frozen bones and weep. He would slowly die himself, withering and decaying with time, limbs intertwined with his long dead lover. Each time he saw this, his heart ached more for his lost love. His entire demeanor towards the children within the mansion changed and he became more involved in the daily workings of people like Hank. Eventually, he was even able to convince Hank to build him this machine.
And much to Hanks chagrin, it actually worked.
It had been 15 years since the anniversary of Charles’ accident. But still, Erik would not give up hope. On that morning in May, every year, he would see Charles die. In different ways, but always the same accident. Always, his power would let him see where his death could be prevented but he could do nothing. Each time he awoke, he heard the crying of the metal as his powers shot from him and echoed his wailing heart.
So in his determination to get back the only person he ever truly loved, Erik gave 15 years of his life pouring of diagrams, working with Hank and devouring physics. Hank could see the increasing amount of pain on his face as he worked through the years. But, as he kept telling Hank, he needed to do this.
“Erik,” Hank called out to the older man. He glanced down to see the concern on the blue man’s face. He lowered himself and put on his suit. It was time to go.
The machine was large enough for one person, its tight fitting room filled with switches and numbers. A large computer screen lit up the dark space and a small photo of Charles was attached to it. The shining floor had two foot prints for where you were required to stand and Erik, being as fidgety as he was, asked if it was, in fact, necessary.
“Well, no,” Hank said, hanging upside down from the rafters above. “But if you want to make it in one piece, I recommend that you stand there. There is no telling where or when you could end up. Not only that, but I don’t know how this will even work for you. You may end up on the other side with no powers or perhaps run into an earlier version of yourself. It’s all very confusing, and I don’t have time to explain it all to you. Just know that this has never been tested before on a mutant. I don’t know if you will even be able to survive.”
Erik growled at Hank. “I don’t care, Hank. How many times do I have to tell you, I will save him.”
Hank shrugged and jumped down from the rafters. Once again, Erik wished the blue, furry man had kept his affinity for clothing. His blue undergarments blended in so well to his fluffy exterior that it was almost as if he was naked. It was unsettling to Erik.
“I will input your coordinates this time, Erik, but you will need to do it yourself later.”
“Just get on with it!”
Hank shrugged as Erik stepped within the chamber. He put in the coordinates and hit the green button. The doors shut and all he could do was silently wish Erik god speed. He stayed and watched the machine fade from time and slowly walked away. He had work to do.
Something was wrong. That much could be told without being able to speak with the metal surrounding him. But even with that, Erik could not locate the problem and as he felt the machine begin to strain and hear it groan, he attempted to reach out and fix it. He felt a weight on his mind and as he cried out in pain, he felt the machine hit the ground.
Erik was thrust out of the machine, his face hitting the mud and moist plant. He let out a cry when he continued to slide down the steep hill and grabbed on to a tree to prevent his further descent.
Pulling himself up the hill, Erik could hear the strain of his aged limbs and joints. He was not nearly as spry as he had initially thought. Then again, he hadn’t thought the coordinates would have been so off.
He reached the top of the hill and gazed down. He didn’t even recognize where he was, it was almost as though he had been pulled into that movie “Jurassic Park.” He could see something coming at him as he stumbled back into the machine and he cursed loudly. He had never seen a beast so large and thrust his hands out in an attempt to control the metal surrounding him to take the beast down.
But the only metal was contained within the time machine itself. Erik groaned and ran for the machine.
The pterodactyl dived at him, letting out an ear piercing shriek. It pulled back when the door to the machine opened and slammed closed.
Erik could hear the beast diving at the machine and pecking it. He could hear it shrieking when he could not pierce it and Erik knew he needed to move himself. Groaning under the strain of his task, Erik enveloped the machine within his weakened powers and swiftly moved it up and away from the flying wretch that attacked them. He could hear its powerful wings beat in tandem with his heart beat and wondered if that was in his mind.
Erik strained under the weight of the metal. The first time he had done so since he was a boy bending a gate. He landed the machine on the top of a cliff and when he peaked out, was thrilled to see the door facing inward to a cave. He climbed out into the dank, grey cave and almost breathed a sigh of relief. He was thrilled when he noticed the formations in the rocks and what they could become over time. This was geology in the making.
He was less thrilled to hear the pterodactyl still outside the cave’s mouth. He let out a small cry of terror when its beak like mouth came through the crack between the wall and the machine. Reaching out once again, Erik found a small deposit of metal within the walls of the cave. He did not recognize the metal but did not care to stop and study it. He thrust it towards the head of the monster and got a small sense of satisfaction when he heard a cry of pain and the flapping disappear into the distance.
But now Erik realized he was stuck within the cave. Slowly, time passed and the weather grew colder. Erik had found sufficient nutrients within the cave but as he tinkered with the time machine to once again get it to work, he grew weaker and weaker. It was almost as if the machine was sucking Erik’s time from him in order to be repaired. Almost out of energy and what he perceived as time, Erik sat against the cave wall and panted, his hand laying on a perfectly pointed rock. Erik picked up the rock and played with it, studying it carefully and feeling the cold in his joints as the temperature dropped over the following days.
Snow began to fall and Erik breathed out a long puff of air. He watched it fade from sight and longed for a cigarette. So that his beloved could come and take it from him, putting it out with a wit remark. Erik, continue to smoke that around me and I will make you spend the rest of your days alone.
Come now, Charles! These things are to die for!
Pun intended, I assume.
I love you, Charles. For you, I’d stop time.
I will die here, Erik thought as he stared at the wall of the cave, the frozen water that had dripped down showing his worn face.
Before I die…Erik began a project. He left the machine to its own devices and began to carve the cave wall.
It was a long and tedious task. The walls were frozen solid and the rock Erik had grabbed was soft and malleable. Even so, he did not give up and continued to break through the frozen ice and even as he shivered, carve into the wall.
A noise could be heard from the distance. Erik chose to ignore it. All his mind could concentrate on was finishing this. This would be his masterpiece. This would show all of his love to the world for millennia. If only he could finish it!
The noise in the distance grew louder. A grinding, crunching groan. Erik began to take more notice to it but insisted on finishing his masterpiece. The cave began to quake and the hanging rocks and ice began to tinker together. Charles, Erik whispered as he completed his work. The rocks within the cave ground together and Erik dived to avoid the falling ice. He may perish here, but his love would be known.
Staring him in the face was a young Charles, his name written out below him. Even though Erik’s hands were frozen, even though his old bones ached and his fingers bled, Erik could not help but feel that rush of joy at seeing his lover. He leaned over and kissed the stone lips before leaping into the machine.
Hoping that it would work, Erik mashed in the date he wished to go, the coordinates and the time and pounded the green button to go. The machine began to vanish and make a strange sound around him. He could see through it briefly before they both vanished and the glacier Erik had ignored for days tore through the cave. He cried out in anguish and pounded on the door before they both vanished.
The blackness of time engulfed Erik and he simply stood in place, his hands clenched tightly. The aching of his old bones began to fade as time moved forward. He felt his long time exhaustion dissipating and all he wished to do was shut his eyes and sleep. So he did.
Erik awoke some time later, his feet having slightly shifted from the spot they were supposed to be, his arms resting on the door and his back sore. He stretched and hurriedly put his feet back where they were supposed to be. Erik stopped slowly. He reached one arm up and then the other. He bent his back slowly forward, then moved side to side.
Bringing his hand down to his face, Erik could hear his heart beating within his chest. He felt as though it would force its way through his mouth with the force it was pumping. His hand, once wrinkled and aged was smooth. It was soft and only slightly worn. He was now younger then he had ever been with Charles.
He felt his face and the firmness of his mouth and eyes. He smiled and laughed slightly. He had not had a smile this wide in ages. He remembered Charles comparing it to the look of a shark when they were alone once.
His smile faded.
He could no longer see the black void of time around him, only the machine. Assuming it was safe to escape its confines, Erik stepped out.
Onto a battle field.
Erik let out an anguished cry as something bright and flaming smashed itself into the machine. He heard the metal screech and melt and dove to the side as he heard someone call.
“Show yourself, wretch!” Came the voice, its accent unfamiliar. Erik stood his eyes fierce and hands feeling the metal bend to his will, ready to defend him.
Erik glared at the man who had a mediaeval style bow pointed at him. He had failed again, he thought. Until he saw the phone like object on the man’s hip, and the sunglasses he wore, which were a strange green tint and lit his eyes behind them. Miniature computers?
“Do not point that at me, sir, I mean you no harm,” Erik yelled, his voice saying what his actions did not repeat. He was drawing up the remains of his machine to hurl at the youth presented to him.
The young man took his eyes off of Erik and quickly dove at him, screaming for him to get down. Another shot of flame hit the ground where the youth had been standing and when Erik looked into his face, he saw what looked like Alex…
But there was no way that could be the young man Charles had reared. He had a deep scar through the center of his face, and Erik could not determine whether he was a mutant or not.
“Declare yourself!” The boy said, brushing himself off as he stood.
“My name is Erik. I do not know when I am but I am lost. Perhaps I can be of assistance?”
The young man studied him intently; then held his hand out the help the older man up.
“Alexus,” he said with a huff as the weight of the 6 foot 2 inch man heaved him down. He stared up at him in contempt briefly. He did not enjoy feeling short.
Erik noticed the fleeting look that came across Alexus’ face and patted him slightly on the shoulder.
“Shall I hunch for you? I don’t mean to sound condescending; I know I make people uncomfortable when I stand at full height.”
Alexus shook his head and Erik smiled. “You can not smile though. You look like a shark.”
Erik began to laugh silently to himself and Alexus, still wary of their situation, poked him with the arrow and told him to move ahead of him.
The youth led them back to what appeared to be a disserted village, the most lavish building still polished and intact. It shone on the rest of the buildings to show how much more decrepit they truly were and Erik almost felt sorry for them. But as the people slowly crept out to meet the stranger, he could not. Each and every one of them were mutant, and all appeared to be powerful. Yet the hid beneath the ruins of this old town from a mystery being. Erik could not help but be confused at the turn of events but allowed himself to be poked further and coaxed into the building in front of him.
Alexus stopped short of the marble stairs. “I can go no further,” He said lightly. “I am no permitted to see the mayor until I have proven myself.”
“Alex, I believe you may follow me. I do not wish to go alone. Besides, if I go alone, who knows what will happen?” Erik had the urge to stick his tongue out like a child. He stopped himself, reminding him that he may look young but he was in fact a very old man. He never acted that way, but sticking your tongue out is silly regardless of your age.
Alexus agreed and they walked up the grand stairs until they reached massive oak doors. Erik was told to announce himself and his fealty before entering. He simply snorted and announced himself by bursting the lock on the door with his power and opening it before striding in.
He saw no one. But he heard the creaking of wood and metal joints above him. He quickly dodged out of the way before he was faced with a six foot, furry beast. Erik’s eyes widened.
“Hank?”
Rating: NC-17 for later violence and sex. (PG this chapter.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Including Broken Bride by Ludo and X-men. Sadly.
Summary: An accident in 1989 has claimed the life of Erik’s beloved. Driven by grief, he creates a machine to take him back to that time. Based off of Ludo’s CD Broken Bride. Please support the band.
I posted a fic previously but had a link offsite. I know most people dont enjoy that so hop over to http://kinziek.livejournal.com/12097.html to read my last X-Men ficlet. Enjoy this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE I cant stress the LOVE part enough, comments. I want to hear what you all think and I love crits too.
Chapter 1: Morning in May
Erik wiped the sweat from his forehead and stared at the monster Beast had created for him. He was grateful Hank had been willing to do this, and ran a hand over the smooth, cold metal. He put his cheek against it and listened to the metal itself, feeling what needed to be tightened or loosened and what didn’t belong.
Hank stood back and watched.
“Erik…”
“Shhh.”
“Erik, this is not a good idea. You’re not young anymore; I can’t guarantee this machine will be able to go when you need it to.”
The silver haired Magneto glared up. He was just as capable as he had always been, and while he was getting on in years, he could not let his partner keep his fate. He stood back from the machine and lifted himself into the air, watching the wiring and making sure everything was where it needed to be, as he had done with the machine itself. Hank watched with a sad look on his face. The poor man before him had spent 15 years on this project, refusing to give up.
Everyone knew that the man had been haunted all these years over this. He would often awake in a fit, unable to control his powers, shaking the wiring and lamps within the mansion. What they didn’t know is what caused these exactly.
When Erik shut his eyes, he could see it. The grave in the garden that Charles had been buried in. He would slowly climb inside and clutch his frozen bones and weep. He would slowly die himself, withering and decaying with time, limbs intertwined with his long dead lover. Each time he saw this, his heart ached more for his lost love. His entire demeanor towards the children within the mansion changed and he became more involved in the daily workings of people like Hank. Eventually, he was even able to convince Hank to build him this machine.
And much to Hanks chagrin, it actually worked.
It had been 15 years since the anniversary of Charles’ accident. But still, Erik would not give up hope. On that morning in May, every year, he would see Charles die. In different ways, but always the same accident. Always, his power would let him see where his death could be prevented but he could do nothing. Each time he awoke, he heard the crying of the metal as his powers shot from him and echoed his wailing heart.
So in his determination to get back the only person he ever truly loved, Erik gave 15 years of his life pouring of diagrams, working with Hank and devouring physics. Hank could see the increasing amount of pain on his face as he worked through the years. But, as he kept telling Hank, he needed to do this.
“Erik,” Hank called out to the older man. He glanced down to see the concern on the blue man’s face. He lowered himself and put on his suit. It was time to go.
The machine was large enough for one person, its tight fitting room filled with switches and numbers. A large computer screen lit up the dark space and a small photo of Charles was attached to it. The shining floor had two foot prints for where you were required to stand and Erik, being as fidgety as he was, asked if it was, in fact, necessary.
“Well, no,” Hank said, hanging upside down from the rafters above. “But if you want to make it in one piece, I recommend that you stand there. There is no telling where or when you could end up. Not only that, but I don’t know how this will even work for you. You may end up on the other side with no powers or perhaps run into an earlier version of yourself. It’s all very confusing, and I don’t have time to explain it all to you. Just know that this has never been tested before on a mutant. I don’t know if you will even be able to survive.”
Erik growled at Hank. “I don’t care, Hank. How many times do I have to tell you, I will save him.”
Hank shrugged and jumped down from the rafters. Once again, Erik wished the blue, furry man had kept his affinity for clothing. His blue undergarments blended in so well to his fluffy exterior that it was almost as if he was naked. It was unsettling to Erik.
“I will input your coordinates this time, Erik, but you will need to do it yourself later.”
“Just get on with it!”
Hank shrugged as Erik stepped within the chamber. He put in the coordinates and hit the green button. The doors shut and all he could do was silently wish Erik god speed. He stayed and watched the machine fade from time and slowly walked away. He had work to do.
Something was wrong. That much could be told without being able to speak with the metal surrounding him. But even with that, Erik could not locate the problem and as he felt the machine begin to strain and hear it groan, he attempted to reach out and fix it. He felt a weight on his mind and as he cried out in pain, he felt the machine hit the ground.
Erik was thrust out of the machine, his face hitting the mud and moist plant. He let out a cry when he continued to slide down the steep hill and grabbed on to a tree to prevent his further descent.
Pulling himself up the hill, Erik could hear the strain of his aged limbs and joints. He was not nearly as spry as he had initially thought. Then again, he hadn’t thought the coordinates would have been so off.
He reached the top of the hill and gazed down. He didn’t even recognize where he was, it was almost as though he had been pulled into that movie “Jurassic Park.” He could see something coming at him as he stumbled back into the machine and he cursed loudly. He had never seen a beast so large and thrust his hands out in an attempt to control the metal surrounding him to take the beast down.
But the only metal was contained within the time machine itself. Erik groaned and ran for the machine.
The pterodactyl dived at him, letting out an ear piercing shriek. It pulled back when the door to the machine opened and slammed closed.
Erik could hear the beast diving at the machine and pecking it. He could hear it shrieking when he could not pierce it and Erik knew he needed to move himself. Groaning under the strain of his task, Erik enveloped the machine within his weakened powers and swiftly moved it up and away from the flying wretch that attacked them. He could hear its powerful wings beat in tandem with his heart beat and wondered if that was in his mind.
Erik strained under the weight of the metal. The first time he had done so since he was a boy bending a gate. He landed the machine on the top of a cliff and when he peaked out, was thrilled to see the door facing inward to a cave. He climbed out into the dank, grey cave and almost breathed a sigh of relief. He was thrilled when he noticed the formations in the rocks and what they could become over time. This was geology in the making.
He was less thrilled to hear the pterodactyl still outside the cave’s mouth. He let out a small cry of terror when its beak like mouth came through the crack between the wall and the machine. Reaching out once again, Erik found a small deposit of metal within the walls of the cave. He did not recognize the metal but did not care to stop and study it. He thrust it towards the head of the monster and got a small sense of satisfaction when he heard a cry of pain and the flapping disappear into the distance.
But now Erik realized he was stuck within the cave. Slowly, time passed and the weather grew colder. Erik had found sufficient nutrients within the cave but as he tinkered with the time machine to once again get it to work, he grew weaker and weaker. It was almost as if the machine was sucking Erik’s time from him in order to be repaired. Almost out of energy and what he perceived as time, Erik sat against the cave wall and panted, his hand laying on a perfectly pointed rock. Erik picked up the rock and played with it, studying it carefully and feeling the cold in his joints as the temperature dropped over the following days.
Snow began to fall and Erik breathed out a long puff of air. He watched it fade from sight and longed for a cigarette. So that his beloved could come and take it from him, putting it out with a wit remark. Erik, continue to smoke that around me and I will make you spend the rest of your days alone.
Come now, Charles! These things are to die for!
Pun intended, I assume.
I love you, Charles. For you, I’d stop time.
I will die here, Erik thought as he stared at the wall of the cave, the frozen water that had dripped down showing his worn face.
Before I die…Erik began a project. He left the machine to its own devices and began to carve the cave wall.
It was a long and tedious task. The walls were frozen solid and the rock Erik had grabbed was soft and malleable. Even so, he did not give up and continued to break through the frozen ice and even as he shivered, carve into the wall.
A noise could be heard from the distance. Erik chose to ignore it. All his mind could concentrate on was finishing this. This would be his masterpiece. This would show all of his love to the world for millennia. If only he could finish it!
The noise in the distance grew louder. A grinding, crunching groan. Erik began to take more notice to it but insisted on finishing his masterpiece. The cave began to quake and the hanging rocks and ice began to tinker together. Charles, Erik whispered as he completed his work. The rocks within the cave ground together and Erik dived to avoid the falling ice. He may perish here, but his love would be known.
Staring him in the face was a young Charles, his name written out below him. Even though Erik’s hands were frozen, even though his old bones ached and his fingers bled, Erik could not help but feel that rush of joy at seeing his lover. He leaned over and kissed the stone lips before leaping into the machine.
Hoping that it would work, Erik mashed in the date he wished to go, the coordinates and the time and pounded the green button to go. The machine began to vanish and make a strange sound around him. He could see through it briefly before they both vanished and the glacier Erik had ignored for days tore through the cave. He cried out in anguish and pounded on the door before they both vanished.
The blackness of time engulfed Erik and he simply stood in place, his hands clenched tightly. The aching of his old bones began to fade as time moved forward. He felt his long time exhaustion dissipating and all he wished to do was shut his eyes and sleep. So he did.
Erik awoke some time later, his feet having slightly shifted from the spot they were supposed to be, his arms resting on the door and his back sore. He stretched and hurriedly put his feet back where they were supposed to be. Erik stopped slowly. He reached one arm up and then the other. He bent his back slowly forward, then moved side to side.
Bringing his hand down to his face, Erik could hear his heart beating within his chest. He felt as though it would force its way through his mouth with the force it was pumping. His hand, once wrinkled and aged was smooth. It was soft and only slightly worn. He was now younger then he had ever been with Charles.
He felt his face and the firmness of his mouth and eyes. He smiled and laughed slightly. He had not had a smile this wide in ages. He remembered Charles comparing it to the look of a shark when they were alone once.
His smile faded.
He could no longer see the black void of time around him, only the machine. Assuming it was safe to escape its confines, Erik stepped out.
Onto a battle field.
Erik let out an anguished cry as something bright and flaming smashed itself into the machine. He heard the metal screech and melt and dove to the side as he heard someone call.
“Show yourself, wretch!” Came the voice, its accent unfamiliar. Erik stood his eyes fierce and hands feeling the metal bend to his will, ready to defend him.
Erik glared at the man who had a mediaeval style bow pointed at him. He had failed again, he thought. Until he saw the phone like object on the man’s hip, and the sunglasses he wore, which were a strange green tint and lit his eyes behind them. Miniature computers?
“Do not point that at me, sir, I mean you no harm,” Erik yelled, his voice saying what his actions did not repeat. He was drawing up the remains of his machine to hurl at the youth presented to him.
The young man took his eyes off of Erik and quickly dove at him, screaming for him to get down. Another shot of flame hit the ground where the youth had been standing and when Erik looked into his face, he saw what looked like Alex…
But there was no way that could be the young man Charles had reared. He had a deep scar through the center of his face, and Erik could not determine whether he was a mutant or not.
“Declare yourself!” The boy said, brushing himself off as he stood.
“My name is Erik. I do not know when I am but I am lost. Perhaps I can be of assistance?”
The young man studied him intently; then held his hand out the help the older man up.
“Alexus,” he said with a huff as the weight of the 6 foot 2 inch man heaved him down. He stared up at him in contempt briefly. He did not enjoy feeling short.
Erik noticed the fleeting look that came across Alexus’ face and patted him slightly on the shoulder.
“Shall I hunch for you? I don’t mean to sound condescending; I know I make people uncomfortable when I stand at full height.”
Alexus shook his head and Erik smiled. “You can not smile though. You look like a shark.”
Erik began to laugh silently to himself and Alexus, still wary of their situation, poked him with the arrow and told him to move ahead of him.
The youth led them back to what appeared to be a disserted village, the most lavish building still polished and intact. It shone on the rest of the buildings to show how much more decrepit they truly were and Erik almost felt sorry for them. But as the people slowly crept out to meet the stranger, he could not. Each and every one of them were mutant, and all appeared to be powerful. Yet the hid beneath the ruins of this old town from a mystery being. Erik could not help but be confused at the turn of events but allowed himself to be poked further and coaxed into the building in front of him.
Alexus stopped short of the marble stairs. “I can go no further,” He said lightly. “I am no permitted to see the mayor until I have proven myself.”
“Alex, I believe you may follow me. I do not wish to go alone. Besides, if I go alone, who knows what will happen?” Erik had the urge to stick his tongue out like a child. He stopped himself, reminding him that he may look young but he was in fact a very old man. He never acted that way, but sticking your tongue out is silly regardless of your age.
Alexus agreed and they walked up the grand stairs until they reached massive oak doors. Erik was told to announce himself and his fealty before entering. He simply snorted and announced himself by bursting the lock on the door with his power and opening it before striding in.
He saw no one. But he heard the creaking of wood and metal joints above him. He quickly dodged out of the way before he was faced with a six foot, furry beast. Erik’s eyes widened.
“Hank?”