(no subject)
Forge appears to be sleeping. Deeply. Maybe too deeply. Is that snore really necessary? He's got a pillow pressed tightly to his ribs. He's strangling it in his dreams, poor thing.
Xavier enters quietly, maneuvering carefully around the hospital beds with a clear direction already in mind - for he moves without hesitation until he reaches Forge's feet, his brows lifted slightly at the big Indian. "Peaceful."
Hank is nowhere to be found, though there's a light on in his tiny little sectioned off semi-transparent cubicle thingie.
"Hank?" Raising his voice several bars, Xavier leans back away from Forge, his gaze wandering carefully over the lab before the subtle prod of his mind follows suit.
Hank answers from his office. "You don't have to shout. And you don't have to probe, either. Turn it off, please. I'm right here. Greetings, Charles, what brings you all the way down here? Nothing serious, I hope."
"I wasn't shouting, was I?" Xavier inquires in a much softer voice, his mental shields sliding neatly into place as he redirects his attention back onto Forge - pillow and all. "Nothing serious...I was simply hoping to speak to Forge directly. Unfortunately, it appears that I've missed my opportunity."
Hank nods. "He's surprisingly physiologically susceptible to the sedating effects of the pain medication he's on. And unless you can talk telepathically to him, I'd ask you to wait for at least another day. Creed or Toad, one of them, has given Forge a crack in his chin, and as a result he finds it nearly impossible to talk clearly. But, if it's about Ororo, you'd do better to talk to her first."
Xavier sighs, his shoulders sagging a little at the thought of untangling things on a much larger scale than he had planned on for the evening. "You're probably right. All the same, I would have liked to get Forge's thoughts on Ororo's response in order to use them as an arguing piece should she become irrational."
Hank nods. "He talked to me a little over dinner yesterday. We agree that she is being driven by the thought of stopping a threat to Forge, not necessarily a rational impulse to begin with. Nor is she necessarily being driven by the wish to protect *Forge*, but rather what he stands for. Security, and her own revenge, among others."
"An unfortunate series of opinions, to be certain." Xavier concedes after a moment of thoughtful silence, his eyes dropping to the floor. "Do you know if anyone else has spoken to her about it at this point?"
Hank shakes his head. "No. Forge himself tried to talk her round, to his credit. I haven't managed to track her down yet myself. I'm not sure she's *able* to listen to reason now, much less willing." He sighs. "Forge is going to scar. She does have cause. Given what she went through at their hands, and then having to see *that* carved on the body of her lover, yes, I can certainly see her point. If anybody did that to my lover I would be just as enraged."
"I should hope you would also be more sensible about charging out on your own to stop a threat that doesn't really exist." Xavier is quick to reply, his expression difficult to read as he considers the task ahead of him. "In my experience, Forge doesn't tend to be able to express himself effectively, but as close as they are I must admit that I was hoping for better results there. Hm."
Hank arches a shaggy eyebrow. "I wouldn't even stop to tell anyone. As it is, I have sat on my hands to stop myself from joining her. That unholy couple has gone after our students and staff on a regular basis, merely for the chance to cause mayhem. They killed two of Jean's friends after she dared stand up to them, they gave Sophia a broken back and a depressed skull fracture, and those are only the attacks I know about. Creed pulled the pin on a grenade he had previously jammed down Logan's windpipe. They are nothing but evil, and you won't hear me say this again about my fellow human beings, but those two must be destroyed for the good of mankind. They are a plague and a blot, and so far, they have no redemptive qualities. Not that I've found. The only positive results we've ever managed to accomplish were with total mind wipes of both of them, and neither of them took on a permanent basis."
"Yes, they are a blot, and I will not advocate or condone any of my staff stooping down to their level for a sheer act of revenge, Hank." Straightening out his back, Xavier's even tone is as firm as his gaze as he locks it directly onto the shaggy blue mutant. "This is a line that I do not want crossed, and I should think you know better than to assume otherwise."
Hank meets his eyes. "I am a doctor, Charles, any injury I caused I would therefore have to fix." He sits down on a handy stool. "You ought to know by now that whatever I might think, I am firmly committed to a non-violent life, and always will be. Venting frustration and wishful thinking does not translate into actual threat, as you know full well."
"The step from thought to action is not a difficult one to make when there's a strong motivator involved. You are entitled to your opinion, but if you have a chance to speak with Ororo before I do, I must insist that you refrain from sharing it with her, or she could very well interpret your thoughts as active support rather than 'wishful thinking'." Still firm, Xavier doesn't relent immediately, not quite able to back down with one of his X-men already very close to the line - if they haven't already crossed it.
Hank sighs. "I am not quite that clueless, Charles. Do you think so little of me?"
"After this, I'm not entire sure what I think. I apologize...I'm merely attempting to cover every base. With Scott gone, Ororo unreliable, and Jean still resting..." Xavier shakes his head subtly, sighing once more. "I need strength and support where I can get it, Hank."
Hank has to smile, his dry sense of humor coming unbidden. "Look at me, Charles, do you think I'm the proverbial 90 pound weakling?" Then, he gets serious, blue eyes looking at the older man compassionately. "You can always count on me, Charles, do not doubt. How could I do any less for the only place in this world that not only took me in but enabled me to keep my career after what I did to myself?"
Xavier manages a smile at that, however wary. "Of course, Hank. Forgive me for insinuating doubt...I'm merely trying to focus my concerns where I know they will do the least damage."
Hank nods. "I know. I can only try to talk to Ororo, Charles, I can't guarantee anything." Then, he frowns. "Forgive me, but. . . if rather more severe measures need to be taken, are you willing to implement them?"
Xavier nods. "I really would appreciate the effort.” The next question gets a moment's pause, his weight shifting from cane to right foot to left foot before evening out between all three carefully. "I will do what I deem necessary if I believe she intends to put herself in harm's way."
Hank nods. "If I can find her, I'll talk to her." There's a thoughtful pause. "Charles, when will Logan return?"
"That is entirely up to Logan." Xavier replies evenly, glancing down to move his cane from right hand to left...and sneaking another look at Forge in the process. Still sleeping. "You might also tell her that I would like to speak to her as soon as possible."
Hank nods. "I confess, I think he might be better suited to this than I, merely because his healing factor is faster than mine. But I suppose I do have the lion's share of tact. I will try. I don't know where to find her, or where to start looking."
Xavier lifts a staying hand immediately, his forehead wrinkling in an unguarded look of concern mixed with vague disbelief. "If you believe that she might be determined enough to harm you, there are other courses of action that I might take."
Hank grins, showing sharp teeth. "I believe that Storm is aptly named."
Xavier pulls in a deep breath at that, nodding once. "I had hoped she would be more open to suggestion. I suppose this calls for a change of plans..." Thinking a moment, he looks to Forge before taking a step back towards the door, apparently already feeling a little pressed for time. "I don't want you seeking her out, Hank. I need you here to see that Forge does not attempt to get involved any further than he's already been forced to."
Hank mmms. "Granted that this has to be very carefully choreographed, Charles, I think that racing in there with our collective backs already up will do more harm than good. She needs to know that we understand. That she has friends, and a support system. She must *not* be thrown onto the defensive, whatever we do."
"A fact that I'm becoming distinctly aware of as more information drifts my way. I do not wish to put her on the defensive, and will take every step to see that this situation is handled delicately as well as appropriately. I always do."
Hank harrumphs a little. << < Just because I have paws instead of hands doesn't mean that I can't handle it tactfully. >> >
Xavier chuckles despite himself and the situation, his eyes squinting with a lighter amusement than that which he actually feels as he turns for the door. "It's not that I don't trust you to be delicate - it's simply that I don't want you to be put in harm's way if things don't go as planned. I need you at full capacity, and I need you here with Forge."
Hank mmms a little. "Don't hurt her, Charles. God knows she's had enough of that."
Xavier's amusement fades immediately, his response to that one that's as easily felt as it is heard, smoothly confident, warm, and honest. "No matter how poor the situation turns out to be, I can assure you that I do not intend to harm her in any way."
Hank nods, frowning in thought. "Yes. But. Ah. I am worrying unnecessarily." And is that a scientific mind kept carefully blank? What is Hank hiding?
Xavier allows himself one final sigh before crossing the distance to the door, speaking as he goes. "I will contact you immediately upon my return to inform you of how things went. For now, try to leave the worrying to me." And with that, Xavier is out the door.