Chapter Text
“No, young lady.” That tone dismisses most of the children with ease. He should have known, really, that it wouldn’t work on Scott’s granddaughter. She just smirks at him, shrugging off the sternness.
"Come on, Erik." Not Magneto. Not even Mr. Lehnsherr. "I thought it was silly too, before Gabriel showed me how to play."
His brow furrows and his mouth thins. “Velocidad. That boy looks at you - “
"Oh, stop." She doesn’t sound particularly annoyed, though. Touched, perhaps.
She spreads the cards in her hands, staring up at him with wide eyes. He wonders, distantly, if all mutant children have the secondary mutation of imitating kicked puppies.
I will not be manipulated, he tells himself, but he looks at her and sees everything she doesn’t say; years of violence and loss and loneliness. Today, she is trying to be happy, trying to be a child.
He huffs, and crosses his arms. “I propose a compromise. You teach me this ‘game’, and I’ll teach you how to play chess.”
Her grin is broad and bright, and a little smug.
Well. Surely it won’t be difficult to beat her at a simple card game.