"Not in your sight"
Title: (Happening now only) Not in your sight
Fandom: X-Men: First Class
Pairing: Erik/Charles pre-slash
Genre: Alternate Universe
Rating: G
Word Count: 1089
Warnings: None
Summary: Universe had a lot of plans drawn for this man, this is only one of them.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything that would be what happened in the movie, thank you very much. But since I don't, well... Writing for fun not for profit.
Author's note: Title taken from "Quantum Theory" by Jarvis Cocker. A modest fill for au_bingo for the prompt "Alternative history: Canon Event Changed.". I actually had no idea how to fill it so there to hoping that it will count. Also, dedicated to scrapbullet, because she's amazing and wrote me a fic that left me flailing like mad. Anyone interested please visit Purl.
There is a moment in time and space that is the crossroad, leading the fates of those involved into different futures, all unknown, but bearing the consequences of one decision.
There is a moment when the fate of the whole world depends on the words and actions of a man.
There is a moment with 500 missiles suspended in the air, waiting for a signal to go back towards the men that fired them.
There is a moment when Charles Xavier has a power to save or condemn his entire race.
There is a moment when Charles Xavier has a power to keep the man he loves by his side for all their lives.
There is a moment when few ill-chosen words cost him everything.
But it is not here nor now.
This is the other road.
This is the road on which Charles Xavier chose his words more carefully.
This is the road on which he got to keep everything.
It’s not easy.
Charles knows it wouldn’t be, no matter what. Still, somewhat foolishly, he thought that with the Cuban Crisis behind them everything would be easier.
As if it could ever be.
They all came back to the mansion tired, still full on adrenaline. In some cases, still disbelieving that humans used them just to kill them afterwards. In some- Well, it’s sufficient to say that killing Shaw really did not bring any peace to Erik. Quite the opposite, if one wanted to know Charles’ opinion. Not that anyone did.
He had to send Moira back without her memories. He knows that he had to. It would be too dangerous for her to know their location, now that the CIA proved to be as untrustworthy as Erik said they are. It didn’t lessen the impact of the silent judgment in the boys’ eyes. Nor did it make even more silent pride in Raven’s sting less. He doesn’t know what Erik thinks about it and is not sure if he wants to know. The man has been avoiding him even since Cuba.
There are some small mercies in the world.
Not that he wants Erik to avoid him forever. It’s just easier to deal with everything that happened without the scorn and arguments. Or constant fear that the man would leave, for that matter. Charles himself hasn’t sustained any big physical injury in the conflict, but the mental one is enough to leave him weary and hurting all the time. He doesn’t have any strength to deal with Erik’s all-encompassing hatred.
He thinks that in retrospect he should know that he wouldn’t get a lot of time to regroup. Seeing as apparently Universe hates him.
Universe doesn’t hate Charles Xavier.
Universe doesn’t hate anyone.
Universe just makes sure everything goes according to the plan.
Universe has a lot of plans drawn.
Erik comes in his office one evening when Charles is just finishing the letter to his lawyer asking for an advice in opening a school. He looks tired and on edge and if Charles hadn’t felt the same way he would be sorry for him. As it is, there is no pity, only weariness and resignation that it had to happen sooner or later. Charles hoped for later, he really wanted to keep Erik by his side a little longer. Even if they didn’t speak to each other, the man was still here.
He gestures silently to the chessboard, both men taking their places in stuffed armchairs, none making a move to touch the figures on the board.
“You have been avoiding me.” Charles says, too tired to tip toe around the subject.
“I’ve been thinking.” Is Erik’s answer, saying nothing and everything at once. Charles tries not to let the dread he feels consume him. He wants to ask so many questions, demand explanation, but all he does is make an enquiring noise urging Erik to continue. “Humans hate us.”
“I guess so, yes.” Erik looks surprised at the quick agreement, but Charles’ head hurts and he’s not in the mood for this conversation again. “It doesn’t mean however that we need to commit a mass murder. I doubt it would warm them up to us.” On that he is firm. He might have realized that having a faith in everyone’s best intentions was stupid, but it does not mean he is ready to approve killing.
“You’re right.” It’s his turn to be surprised, not expecting Erik to acquiesce so quickly. “We can’t stay hidden forever though.”
No, they cannot. Not only because they would go mad, but because there are others like them out there. Charles saw them. Others, who are scared of and for themselves, just because of whom they are. Charles could bring them to Westchester, hide them all. He is not stupid enough to think that it will be enough. He chooses his answer for Erik carefully, taking time to think of it, not wanting to say the wrong thing as he is prone to do.
“We can’t, that is true. But the war is not answer either.”
“Then what are you proposing?” Erik says and Charles is startled to notice that the man means his question. He doesn’t ask just to dismiss it like he did so many times in the past months. Maybe Charles isn’t the only one who learnt something in Cuba. He leans forward in his seat, unsure, but for the first time since that day a little hopeful.
“I’m not sure myself. We need to take careful steps, but we can’t just hide.” He sighs, unsure really what it is they should do. “We need to make people aware of our existence, but not too-“
“Too aggressively?” Erik says and Charles is glad to find a little smile on the man’s face. That means he doesn’t think Charles is entirely wrong. He can only nod and watch as Erik leans in his seat also, their forehead almost touching now. “We’ll figure it out, Charles. Together, we can do it.”
Yes. Together, they can do anything. Charles smiles and when Erik reaches for his hand, he squeezes the long fingers back. They’re going to be alright.
There is a moment in time and space when the fate of a man hangs in balance.
There is a moment when the fate of species rest on shoulders of few men.
That is not that moment.
There is a moment when all that hangs in balance is the love of two men.
But it is not any less important for that.
Fandom: X-Men: First Class
Pairing: Erik/Charles pre-slash
Genre: Alternate Universe
Rating: G
Word Count: 1089
Warnings: None
Summary: Universe had a lot of plans drawn for this man, this is only one of them.
Disclaimer: If I owned anything that would be what happened in the movie, thank you very much. But since I don't, well... Writing for fun not for profit.
Author's note: Title taken from "Quantum Theory" by Jarvis Cocker. A modest fill for au_bingo for the prompt "Alternative history: Canon Event Changed.". I actually had no idea how to fill it so there to hoping that it will count. Also, dedicated to scrapbullet, because she's amazing and wrote me a fic that left me flailing like mad. Anyone interested please visit Purl.
There is a moment in time and space that is the crossroad, leading the fates of those involved into different futures, all unknown, but bearing the consequences of one decision.
There is a moment when the fate of the whole world depends on the words and actions of a man.
There is a moment with 500 missiles suspended in the air, waiting for a signal to go back towards the men that fired them.
There is a moment when Charles Xavier has a power to save or condemn his entire race.
There is a moment when Charles Xavier has a power to keep the man he loves by his side for all their lives.
There is a moment when few ill-chosen words cost him everything.
But it is not here nor now.
This is the other road.
This is the road on which Charles Xavier chose his words more carefully.
This is the road on which he got to keep everything.
It’s not easy.
Charles knows it wouldn’t be, no matter what. Still, somewhat foolishly, he thought that with the Cuban Crisis behind them everything would be easier.
As if it could ever be.
They all came back to the mansion tired, still full on adrenaline. In some cases, still disbelieving that humans used them just to kill them afterwards. In some- Well, it’s sufficient to say that killing Shaw really did not bring any peace to Erik. Quite the opposite, if one wanted to know Charles’ opinion. Not that anyone did.
He had to send Moira back without her memories. He knows that he had to. It would be too dangerous for her to know their location, now that the CIA proved to be as untrustworthy as Erik said they are. It didn’t lessen the impact of the silent judgment in the boys’ eyes. Nor did it make even more silent pride in Raven’s sting less. He doesn’t know what Erik thinks about it and is not sure if he wants to know. The man has been avoiding him even since Cuba.
There are some small mercies in the world.
Not that he wants Erik to avoid him forever. It’s just easier to deal with everything that happened without the scorn and arguments. Or constant fear that the man would leave, for that matter. Charles himself hasn’t sustained any big physical injury in the conflict, but the mental one is enough to leave him weary and hurting all the time. He doesn’t have any strength to deal with Erik’s all-encompassing hatred.
He thinks that in retrospect he should know that he wouldn’t get a lot of time to regroup. Seeing as apparently Universe hates him.
Universe doesn’t hate Charles Xavier.
Universe doesn’t hate anyone.
Universe just makes sure everything goes according to the plan.
Universe has a lot of plans drawn.
Erik comes in his office one evening when Charles is just finishing the letter to his lawyer asking for an advice in opening a school. He looks tired and on edge and if Charles hadn’t felt the same way he would be sorry for him. As it is, there is no pity, only weariness and resignation that it had to happen sooner or later. Charles hoped for later, he really wanted to keep Erik by his side a little longer. Even if they didn’t speak to each other, the man was still here.
He gestures silently to the chessboard, both men taking their places in stuffed armchairs, none making a move to touch the figures on the board.
“You have been avoiding me.” Charles says, too tired to tip toe around the subject.
“I’ve been thinking.” Is Erik’s answer, saying nothing and everything at once. Charles tries not to let the dread he feels consume him. He wants to ask so many questions, demand explanation, but all he does is make an enquiring noise urging Erik to continue. “Humans hate us.”
“I guess so, yes.” Erik looks surprised at the quick agreement, but Charles’ head hurts and he’s not in the mood for this conversation again. “It doesn’t mean however that we need to commit a mass murder. I doubt it would warm them up to us.” On that he is firm. He might have realized that having a faith in everyone’s best intentions was stupid, but it does not mean he is ready to approve killing.
“You’re right.” It’s his turn to be surprised, not expecting Erik to acquiesce so quickly. “We can’t stay hidden forever though.”
No, they cannot. Not only because they would go mad, but because there are others like them out there. Charles saw them. Others, who are scared of and for themselves, just because of whom they are. Charles could bring them to Westchester, hide them all. He is not stupid enough to think that it will be enough. He chooses his answer for Erik carefully, taking time to think of it, not wanting to say the wrong thing as he is prone to do.
“We can’t, that is true. But the war is not answer either.”
“Then what are you proposing?” Erik says and Charles is startled to notice that the man means his question. He doesn’t ask just to dismiss it like he did so many times in the past months. Maybe Charles isn’t the only one who learnt something in Cuba. He leans forward in his seat, unsure, but for the first time since that day a little hopeful.
“I’m not sure myself. We need to take careful steps, but we can’t just hide.” He sighs, unsure really what it is they should do. “We need to make people aware of our existence, but not too-“
“Too aggressively?” Erik says and Charles is glad to find a little smile on the man’s face. That means he doesn’t think Charles is entirely wrong. He can only nod and watch as Erik leans in his seat also, their forehead almost touching now. “We’ll figure it out, Charles. Together, we can do it.”
Yes. Together, they can do anything. Charles smiles and when Erik reaches for his hand, he squeezes the long fingers back. They’re going to be alright.
There is a moment in time and space when the fate of a man hangs in balance.
There is a moment when the fate of species rest on shoulders of few men.
That is not that moment.
There is a moment when all that hangs in balance is the love of two men.
But it is not any less important for that.