Chapter Text
Hours later, Charles awoke from his slumber, his headache completely gone.
"Mmm..." He groaned. Hank was above him, adjusting his IV drip. "Take it easy, Charles." He warned softly. Charles didn't listen, as expected, and sat up. Hank immediately guided him by holding his back.
Charles let out a groan of pain as he did so. "I need to see Jean Grey and Scott Summers... bring them here, Hank... please..." Hank nodded firmly and left for a quick moment to retrieve the people he asked for.
Charles eased onto the bed again, his mind feeling no pain. Jean and Scott entered the room with Hank moments later, Jean looking concerned and Hank looking determined and concerned as well.
"Professor, what did you need us for?" Jean asked gently, her voice calm and soothing towards Charles. Charles shut his eyes, trying to articulate his thoughts, before he spoke up again. "Once I'm fully healed, I need you two with me to investigate the incident with Cerebro. And bring Logan. Possibly Erik, as well." He paused, furrowing his brows before continuing his words.
"You're dismissed."
---
Days later, after he had gotten better, Charles set out with Jean, Scott, Logan, and Erik to Boston, determination lingering in all of their minds. What also lingered were questions. What was that strong energy from? Why did it keep disappearing and reappearing on the map with Cerebro? And what was so important about this that Cerebro caught it? Could it have been another mutant? Or something worse...
They set out in March, almost 2 weeks after the incident with Charles and Cerebro. They made it to Boston quickly, their powers a great help in them saving hours of flight time.
"Cabot House, 1711..." Erik read aloud to himself as they landed gently on the front lawn. The house was lavish, its exterior painted a fresh mahogany, and the lawn freshly mowed by what appeared to be a Mr. Handy. "What the hell is that?" Charles muttered under his breath as he eyed the Mr. Handy.
Suddenly, Scott rang the doorbell to the house. Erik and Charles both shot him a look. "What the hell! We're trying to be sneaky, Cyclops!" Jean whisper yelled at Scott as the door opened gently.
An old woman with graying hair, gentle eyes, and a sundress was at the door, her hands old and veiny. "Why hello, dears. Are you the new nurses at the retirement home? How's John doing?" Her voice was slightly raspy and had that old people tone they've heard in their own before (Charles?).
Erik came up to the door, a charming smile on his face as his eyes gleamed in the light of the sky.
"Sorry to bother you, ma'am. We've just came to check out something in the area that we've detected. What's your name? My name is Erik Lehnsherr." He held his hand out to shake as the old woman's gaze Landed on his muscular body. "My name is Harriet, are you perhaps from the military? Have you come to draft my grandson?" She asked him, her frail hand slightly shaky as she grabbed his and shook it gently.
"No, we are not from the military, we are the X-Men. Have you heard of us?" Erik replied, carefully scanning the woman's face. It seemed a little odd to him. Her nose looked like it didn't fit on her, but he brushed it off. "Oh! Yes I have heard of you. I am so happy you guys are fighting for the mutants, my husband John is one. He can shoot bolts from his hands! You are so unique, and I'm so glad you guys are here!" Harriet began to gush about John, and Erik gently hushed her.
"I apologize, but we have to go. Save the mutants, of course. John sounds like a very handsome and good man." Erik felt a bit awkward at the gushing, shooting a sideways glance at the others, who stood a few feet behind him.
"Wait!" Harriet called out to him just as he was going to step away from the door. Erik turned around, reluctant annoyance burrowing in his stomach, but he kept his composure.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Could you please tell my husband John I said hello, and I plan to visit?" Her expression was something to pity, and Erik felt odd seeing her sad expression. He sighed softly, before speaking again, his tone firmer this time.
"Yes I will. But I have to go do something. Stay safe ma'am and have a great day, we apologize for bothering you."
The old woman shut her door gently as Erik and the others walked away from the house. "Great job at staying firm and professional, Erik." Charles complimented. Erik felt better after he said that, and the group went on with their journey.
---
Jean spotted a ball of light in the distant woods, sticker bushes scratching her skin and making her wince as she tried to walk and squint at the same time. "Charles, wait. I see something." Jean called out to the group, who stopped in their tracks. She pointed towards the ball of light and guided them towards it.
As Charles approached it, a blinding white light spiked through his mind and made him scream in pain. All of them except Jean turned to look at him, with Erik rushing over to him. "Charles, are you okay?" Charles nodded weakly, fighting to stay standing as he reached towards the light. A voice left his throat that wasn't his. He didn't remember touching the ball, nor the frantic screams of Jean, Scott, Erik, and Logan as a wildfire started around them, engulfing them with flames as they all touched the ball instinctively.
"You...will...become...one...with...𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘺..."