Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

They had a completely new lifetime to live.

How would they decide to use it?

It seemed to be a never ending, constantly reemerging question in the months that followed.

Charles was left in the midst of it feeling mildly restless and a tad overwhelmed. He didn’t even have the cast on his hand anymore, but he swore he could still feel that consistent scratchiness that had kept him up at night. It was just the ghost of an irritation now.

And unfortunately being in the library today wasn’t helping like it usually would. 

Something must have broken in the air conditioning unit; he knew the moment it kicked on by the sound alone. The consistent thunk was beginning to resonate in his own skull, like it wanted to leave a permanent dent hitting against his walls. He was beginning to form a resentment towards the thing, as ridiculous as that sounded. Charles just couldn’t remain focused. His mind was pinballing in a hundred different directions. Not even a calm library environment could solve that.

It was just…difficult.

Erik, Charles and Raven had unanimously accepted that they were stuck in the future and would need to make the best of it. They were trying to. It was just proving to be much easier said than done.

They had a cover story, and the Xmen were working on forging documents to back them up. Dr. McCoy had made it sound easy. The difficult part was coming to terms with the fact that - on paper anyways - they were going to have different names. Raven had been the only one of their trio to really accept it without any fuss.

She had already invented her own names in the past; she’d gone by something very different before meeting Charles and being adopted into his family. Her only stipulation now had been to keep ‘Raven’ as her first name, but that seemed to be a given with all of their documents. Otherwise, the whole ordeal would have an added layer of confusion.

Erik and Charles however were still…working through the change. They each had their own reasons for wanting to hold onto their familial names that went beyond inconvenience. However, the unfortunate reality was that they couldn’t go through society keeping all the same information as relatively public figures, with faces that would steadily come to resemble them too. It was too risky.

The facts were not making it any less frustrating of a process.

While they still had some time to decide what their new names would look like, the more immediate question had involved how to explain their future counterparts…absence. More specifically, the Xmen had been trying to figure out how best to explain to the larger student body what had happened to their Professor. The main team were well aware of the truth, and some of the more junior members had also been privy to the broader details. Kitty and Kurt had both been on the rescue mission after all; there was no keeping it from them.

But for everyone else, the Xmen opted to officially announce that the Professor had decided to ‘take an early retirement.’ Apparently he’d whisked himself away to try and enjoy some of his golden years. The whole thing was very tongue-in-cheek and left the real Charles feeling a bit sour. 

Many of the student body ended up feeling similarly. In their eyes, their Professor had abandoned them. Charles wondered if it would have been better to just claim the man had died in his sleep of natural causes or something else along those lines; he had certainly been old enough for it to be a possibility. However, Jean and Scott both admitted they’d gone with the later story just in case their condition was reversed, as unlikely as they were told it would be.

When it came to Magneto and Mystique however, the Xmen had very little influence in what their conjured fates would be. They’d found out that a rumor mill had already spread that the two Brotherhood leaders were annihilated that day they’d confronted the Scarlet Witch in New York. Less popular stories claimed they could have also retired or potentially been captured by government entities and imprisoned. It was a hogwash of theories, but the Xmen considered the matter largely out of their hands.

It was better that way, seeing how much was still left to be fixed and finagled for their trio to start brand new lives in the twenty first century. Unfortunately, while everything was still a work in progress, Erik, Charles and Raven were pretty limited in what they could yet explore of their new world. For the most part they really couldn’t even leave the grounds of the mansion.

And there it was again: that stubborn, itchy sensation. 

It was no longer contained just to Charles' arm. It kept spreading, crawling up his back and down his throat like a snake. He shivered on reflex, losing his grip on the pencil he’d been ruthlessly twirling between his fingers. It clattered on top of the book he had spread out on the desk, leaving the faintest graphite smudge where the point had collided first.

It was the easiest thing to fix. However, Charles stared at the dark mark with a sense of dread. This was ridiculous. He was being unreasonable. He just needed to erase it. Even if a ghost of the mark was left behind the book itself was old and worn. It was a ‘ Historical summary of the Twentieth Century ’ and already had roughly twenty years worth of community use to show for in its binding and pages.

Frustrated but undeterred, Charles picked the utensil back up and turned it around to gently rub the eraser over the damage. In fact - while he was at it he could try erasing some other marks in the book he’d noticed in previous chapters. A smudge here, a crude squiggle there - a jumble or incomprehensible doodles.

On second thought, maybe that’d be a bit too ambitious. And they weren’t all bad.

Some past readers had left notes in the margins. Typically this would make Charles indignant - this was a public book after all - but under these circumstances he found them very helpful. It was good to know what others had picked out as important from a history he’d never be able to experience for himself. It certainly gave researching the past a double edge to it; he’d never felt both an avid interest alongside bitterness for loss.

Maybe that’s why he was becoming so irritable. Most of what Charles had been doing since the Summer began was simply studying. With the change of season most of the student body left the mansion and many of the communal spaces and school rooms completely empty. It was a gifted opportunity to try and start catching up on everything they’d missed without thousands of prying eyes interested in unfamiliar faces.

Erik and Raven more often joined him. However they also made it a habit of taking breaks to go outside and explore more areas of the mansion. It turns out Raven loved playing tour guide to the older teen; showing off all the parts of the house they remembered from living there. And for all the new additions, she’d report back to Charles with no small amount of excitement. Thus far she’d definitely had the most luck of their trio trying to find the positives of their circumstances.

“Charles!”

Speak of the devil. He looked up, seeing his sister dashing around the shelves towards his table. She was smiling ear-to-ear, her cheeks flush from what must have been a more prolonged run than what he was just witnessing.

“Raven - ssh - we’re in the Library.” Charles admonished, but couldn’t help smiling.

Raven rolled her eyes, blowing a raspberry at him with no more care for the sound than she’d had before. She stopped right in front of his table, hardly needing to catch her breath.

“Charles, there’s no one in here. Not even a Librarian.” She gestured with her arms spread wide to their surroundings.

He’d give her that. They could safely bet there probably wasn’t another soul in this entire wing of the manor to boot.

“It’s the principal.” Charles huffed and set his pencil behind his ear.

“Okay, but that’s not the point. You’ll never believe what we’ve found!” Raven barreled on. She was waving her hands at him with a new blast of excitement he couldn’t hope to be mad about.

“Oh yeah? What is it this time?” He leaned his arms against the table, trying to find an ounce of ease to relax both his mind and his body. Raven might just be providing him with the distraction he needed.

“Oooh, words cannot describe it. You just have to come and see-” Raven declared, leaving no room for argument.

She was already navigating about the table to wrap her arms around his own, forcefully and suddenly hauling him up from the wooden chair. He exclaimed, tripping over his feet to try and find balance with the change of momentum. Two things could be said for certain; Raven was becoming much stronger than her older brother, but she was still significantly shorter than him. 

Mercifully, she released her hold on his bicep to stop from pulling him face forward into the floor. She gave him a moment to correct himself then grabbed his hand and started pulling again. Whether he wanted to or not, he was following her to see for himself what was so indescribable about their most recent discovery.

They left the Library and found the grand staircase leading down to the lower levels. When they reached the bottom, she diverted them behind those same stairs to find an entirely new set that Charles was positive had not been there when they lived in the house. A testament to this fact was that they looked nothing like the rest of the decor, wood turning to chrome and white walls. It looked an awful lot like the secretive lower levels that kept the Xmen’s black bird and other covert materials.

And Raven was leading them straight down, illuminating them in the stark, white lighting. Charles finally began offering up some resistance, pulling back to get her attention.

“Um, Raven, I don’t know that we’re really supposed to be going through here.” He started. Looking around, he could see a larger keypad on the wall with a very clear ‘ emergency exit ’ sign.

“Yeah, I think this way is only meant for emergencies.” Raven admitted, but was still coercing him further down the stairwell.

“But it’s a lot faster this way!” She turned to flash him another excited smile then doubled her efforts to speed them up.

“No, Raven. I’m saying that I don’t think we’re meant to be down here at all!” He tried again, but she merely shook her head.

“Just wait until you see it!”

Charles resigned himself, simply trying to keep up behind her as they made it to the end of the stairs. He noticed an elevator door when they got to the bottom. That must mean there was a hidden elevator door up top they’d yet to find. It was admittedly curious. Then they were racing down halls that were starting to all look very similar, and Charles began to wonder if his sister actually remembered where this wonderful thing was.

“It’s just down here!” Raven insisted, leading them into a new hall that was significantly wider. It actually looked large enough to fit an entire football team.

At the very end was a tall set of double doors that were already propped open. They actually looked a little bent inward. He was suddenly dreading what this might actually end up meaning for them later, because they were definitely not supposed to be down there. They’d had to break in.

At least the damage didn’t look as bad up close, but it still wasn’t good. Raven was slipping past the doors without sparing them a glance, so he held onto the slim hope that they could fix them before anyone noticed they’d been there. She hadn’t let go of his hand either, pulling him in after her before he really had an opportunity to point it out and say something.

But once they were inside, all previous questions left his mind.

This place really was like nothing they’d seen yet.

It was a single room. It had to be the size of a stadium, maybe even bigger. Its ceilings were absurdly tall, reaching up several stories. There were platforms and inlays along the walls, and from where they stood Charles could see a few other entryways from other points besides their own. There were small overhangs too, like hiding nooks or shallow caves made of some kind of metal.

“Most of it is steel. There’s some titanium too.”

Charles looked across from them, where Erik was standing just a few yards shy of the center. The teen had his hands on his hips and his attention trained up towards the ceiling. Following his line of sight, Charles could spy a little room with see-through walls and heavy equipment inside. It looked like it was simply floating above them, with nothing to support it beyond the scaffolding.

“It’s remarkable…” Charles said, in a bit of a daze.

“Isn’t it? It’s huge! I wanna know what they do in here.” Raven exclaimed, wandering further away with her eyes turning around the entire perimeter. She couldn’t find one thing to focus on over another. But as she walked away, one detail did catch his eye.

“There are lines on the floor. Maybe it’s some kind of gym?” Charles suggested, slowly making his way towards Erik.

“It’s possible. I found a bulletin board at one of the other entrances,” Erik finally looked down to acknowledge him, “It still had class schedules from Spring.”

“It’s definitely the strangest classroom I’ve ever seen.” Raven said, circling back around to them.

“And we’ve already seen two of the gyms up top, haven’t we?” Charles was reconsidering it, placing his hand on his chin while he thought.

“Oh, and the track field outside.” Raven added.

“This place looks too sterile to be a track field,” Erik mumbled.

“It does…you know I wonder - do you think they might have lab experiments in here?” Charles suggested, looking up again towards the floating room, “That could be an observation view.”

“Those are some…big experiments.” Erik’s brow furrowed, his eyes turning around the room again.

“Hey - over here!” Raven called, and both boys turned their heads. She was standing in one of the inlays, frantically waving her hands to them.

As the two drew closer, Charles began to notice the faintest hint of outlines on the wall. The larger of the two could very easily be another secret door, while the smaller one more resembled a panel that might open up into the wall. There was a plaque next to the door too, with red lettering reading:

The Danger Room:

is only authorized for use by trained X-men

or under the supervision of two or more trained X-men;

students should not operate the facility unattended.

Charles blinked. This…couldn’t be right. Maybe it was a joke? What kind of classroom would be called ‘the Danger Room.’ It just seemed too silly to be real. However, the sign itself looked worn, rubbed at the edges and with the knicks of age to show for it.

“This panel opens when you push in!” Raven gasped, excitement bubbling in her tone.

Charles looked over, seeing both Raven and Erik staring into the hole in the wall they’d found. Red, blue and yellow lights were simultaneously flickering across their faces in small bursts, accentuating their glimmers of awe. He rushed to their side. Before them now was a larger screen with a few stout ones below. A keyboard was resting on a short desk space with a backlight to better display the keys. On the walls inlaid were the smaller, colored buttons that lazily pinged their hues as if in greeting.

“Woah, woah - wait.” Charles rushed now to try and get their attention, feeling a flare of alarm nearly crack his voice in the process, “Did you not see the sign over here?”

Erik at least seemed intrigued, stepping away from the computer to inspect it. His brow furrowed again.

“Huh…strange name.” He said.

“What is it?” Raven asked, but she was still standing in front of the panel.

“This place is called The Danger Room , which I think is reason enough not to go messing with it.”

“I am curious…” Erik mumbled behind him, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, “what earns it that title? This place is empty.”

Charles whipped his head around to stare the teen down. Giving him a very clear mental nudge, Erik glanced back at him with startled eyes. He was evidently just now picking up on the telepath’s avid disapproval, and now pointed glare. He gestured with his eyes back towards Raven, who was still staring between the screen and the keyboard.

“Ah…” Erik said, and cleared his throat, “yeah, we could go ask one of their team about it.”

“Yes,” Charles agreed, nodding and turning back to his sister. There was definitely some relief now that he knew Erik could help back him up, “I’m sure we could go find one of them. I sensed Ms. Monroe earlier in-”

“Hold on,” Raven waved her hand at him absently, while her other extended towards the keyboard, “I just wanna see the screen.”

“Raven, we really shouldn’t-”

She tapped the space bar of the keyboard before either himself or Erik could stop her. The blank screen suddenly turned white and flashed a single, blocky line of text back at them:

Engage warm up?

“Raven!” Charles exclaimed, “Stop that, we should just leave.”

“Have to agree with your brother here, Tiger,” Erik said, stepping in with a stoic expression that Charles could easily read. He was getting stressed.

“Okay, okay,” Raven held her hands up in defeat, annoyance written clear across her features, “Let me just turn it off.”

She tapped the space bar again.

The white screen didn’t turn back to black. It flashed for a brief moment. Then another, shorter line of text appeared under the first. Feeling a prickling of collective dread, the trio leaned a bit closer to read it. It was just one word:

Confirmed.

Without further warning, the once bright lighting of the room dimmed. Something thunked and clattered within the walls, sending echoes reverberating around them. Charles felt his stomach drop, turning around slowly to look back at the rest of the room as the noise grew louder. He stepped out slightly to stand in front of his sister.

But maybe he was being dramatic. This was a school after all, it couldn’t literally be a room filled with danger. He was surely overreacting.

A final, heavy ker-chunk, and a panel in the floor was sliding away. They watched as a large, metal sculpture rose out of the floor on a fresh panel to replace the hole. Everything clicked and secured back into place. Then the sculpture twitched and began unraveling before them.

Evidently, Charles was in fact reacting appropriately.

Where they stood against the wall, the three children were now dwarfed by the visage of a ten foot robot with glass eyes trained directly on them.

Chapter Text

Where they stood against the wall, the three children were now dwarfed by the visage of a ten foot robot with glass eyes trained directly on them.

For a moment though, that’s all it did. Having come to its full mass the entire construction now grew still. The trio watched it dubiously. The lights behind its ultra red eyes would flicker minutely every few seconds, and Charles got the impression that it was waiting for them to do something first. But what?

If they knew, maybe they could avoid setting off the implied ‘Danger’ of the programming and get out of there still in one piece.

‘ We need to leave. ’ Charles sent the declaration telepathically, opening up their connection. He was too nervous to talk out loud, but gratefully the other two had no objections to this.

‘ Why isn’t it doing anything?! Do you think it’s broken? ’ Raven was somewhere between panicked and hopeful, still standing behind Charles and unmoving.

‘ It’s watching - examining us.’ Erik managed to sound at least a tad calmer in their thoughts while making the same observation. But Charles could tell he was fidgeting, ‘ It could react as soon as we move. ’

‘ Do you think you might be able to restrain it? Long enough for us to have a chance for the door? ’ Charles knew Erik had healed from his injuries, the same as him, but he still worried if he could handle the added strain.

‘ I’ll try. Go on my signal. ’ Erik said.

They both responded with a mental nod to confirm. It was a half-baked plan, but they couldn’t really wait around for one of them to finally give in to a twitch or a sneeze; or for the robot to lash out completely unprompted. Here they were simply hoping for the best.

A beat passed, then the metal bender was throwing his hands up in front of them.

“NOW!”

Without looking back, Charles grabbed Raven’s hand and started dashing for the broken door they’d come through. He saw the robot’s legs jerk before freezing, letting them dash by. Metal screeched viciously and Charles nearly stopped to cover his ears against the noise. It was just so loud - like a scream. But he didn’t dare take his eyes off of their exit, pushing forward despite the mind numbing sound. Although, perhaps he should have been giving more attention to their surroundings after all.

He almost ran straight into the coiling metal that slammed down right in front of them. It blocked their path. Charles skidded to a stop, catching Raven’s momentum to keep them both from knocking over. It looked like an arm - it couldn’t have been anything else. It dwarfed their bodies with its mass and moved with a speed neither were expecting. 

The palm of the hand lunged back for them. Raven screamed, and they both jumped to avoid the collision. It felt like it had shaken the entire room with the force it used to strike. Charles stumbled for a moment, reeling for a solution to get around it. It was already lifting up to try again.

Not enough time - it attacked too quickly for them to dash under it. All they could do was retreat closer from where they’d just run from. It was like it was corralling them. This was insane.

And Erik was already holding the robot still. With a chance to glance back, Charles could see he hadn’t been able to follow behind them. No, in fact he’d gotten even closer to the robot to increase the pull of his power. The boy had his arms stretched up, his hands twitching and grappling with the exertion to hold most of the metal body still. 

There was sweat running down his brow. He was gritting his teeth. The robot’s body trembled as it appeared to continuously resist him. Its red eyes kept leaping back and forth between the metal bender and the two of them. For a moment, Charles was completely transfixed.

Not by the robot, but Erik. He was caught in the storm of rage that was purposefully brewing in the other boy’s mind, trying with all he could to fuel his powers. But it was doing nothing more. Neither his strength nor his control were growing with the tidal waves of anger.

It was as if his abilities were hitting a brick wall and stubbornly powering against it, trying to make progress. But for every barrier there was another side. Charles couldn’t believe he’d never noticed this before. Why wasn’t he-

“Charles, move!” Raven shoved him back, putting all of her weight against his chest.

All he processed was the metal limb crashing right where they’d been standing. It was relentless. Charles couldn’t afford to be distracted.

“What’s wrong with you?” Raven shouted next to him, glaring with concern knitting her brow.

“We need to get back to Erik - he can’t hold it on his own forever.” Charles looked back again, for now ignoring the apology he’d surely need to offer later.

“What are we supposed to do?!” Raven was incredulous, watching the metal arm begin to reel up again. 

Well, they didn’t have any other directions to run. She relented to following him and together they sprinted the remaining distance back to the other boy. Erik’s eyes were squeezed shut, somewhere between concentration and desperation. He was going to slip and he knew that. The metal bender was just trying to delay it as long as possible.

The robot’s body gave a vicious jerk, and there was that foul screeching again.

Charles and Raven stopped right behind him. For a moment all he could do was stare at the back of the boy’s head, his own thoughts running rampant. He had an idea. He just didn’t know that the other would like it - deadly circumstances or not. Hell, it even risked breaking the boy’s already delicate concentration.

“Erik…will you let me try something?” Charles was attempting to calmly shout over the viscous sound of scraping metal, all the while keeping his eyes trained on the long, third arm still reeling back for them.

“ What?! ” Erik’s eyes snapped open. The blood vessels in his eyes were becoming pronounced.

The robot’s body jerked suddenly and aggressively down towards them, its original two arms popping off from where they’d been pinned to its sides. They slammed right back down. Erik took a shuddering breath while his own arms shook. He glanced back at Charles with a fierce expression.

“What are you talking about - what are you still doing here?” Erik was gritting his teeth, not bothering to waste any energy on appearing calm.

“It’s blocked our way out!” Raven exclaimed, jumping reflexively when the third arm crashed against the floor again.

Erik’s eyes darted over to see it, possibly noticing it for the first time. He mumbled something harsh in German. With already trembling control, he widened the distance between his arms and the third limb faltered against the ground. It was still thrashing to get up and now Erik’s legs were quaking under the added exertion.

“My friend, you can’t do this forever! Just let me try something and maybe we can all get out of here unharmed!” Charles rushed to be closer to Erik’s side. He was overwhelmed by the need to do something to support him, even knowing the other might pull away.

But Erik surprised him, growling low under his breath.

“Fine! Do it!” Erik met his gaze once more before squeezing them shut again, overcome when the robot increased its push back. Raven shouted when the construct managed a single step closer to them.

Without another word, Charles dove forward. He reached out and placed his fingertips against both sides of the boy’s temple. Erik flinched, but allowed him into his mind when he pressed to enter.

At once Charles was surrounded by the red throes of the other’s anger. He had to safeguard against it not to be immediately swept away in the torrent. But once he found his way through, coming out of the waves he could see it was fully concentrated. Erik had every ounce focused with one goal in mind; keep them safe.

It wasn’t enough. The rage could only go so far. Charles needed to find something else and fast. He delved into Erik’s memories and quickly pulled out the first thing that felt right amongst the sea of bad. It was as red as the anger - but it was all warmth.

A small flame flickered as two candle wicks met. Wax beaded down and fell on a copper menorah while weathered, delicate hands fit the candle back in place. A soft smile, and she reached out to tuck his hair back -

Charles felt panic and without warning he was falling out of Erik’s mind. He startled a step away, just as the other teen stumbled forward. Opening his eyes, he saw Erik with a clammy, struck expression staring off into nothing. He dropped his arms and twisted his body around to face him. For a moment, Charles couldn’t at all tell what the other was feeling.

There was no time to process his surface thoughts either before Raven was screaming at them.

“Run!” She pushed both of her arms against their backs to shove them into motion, with only a fraction of a second to understand why.

Creaking viciously, the robot was leaning over their small trio and throwing all three of its limbs down on top of them. They were going to be crushed if they didn’t move. They certainly would have been if Raven hadn’t acted. With all of the momentum necessary, Charles and Erik started running with her. Their world shook as the heavy blow landed directly behind them.

The metal construct was loose.

Desperate, Erik twisted around while they ran, reaching his arms up behind them. He was trying to throw it off, to trap it, to regain control in any way possible. All it managed to do was trip his feet beneath him. He’d exhausted himself already. Charles grabbed his arm and forced the boy to right himself. They were lucky that the robot’s legs were slower than its arms, the latter of which had receded back into its metal shell of a body.

“Over there!” Raven yelled.

She gestured wildly to one of the rounded points along the wall where an overhang casted its shadow. Just visible beneath it was a deeper niche nearly shrouded from view. Raven was already booking it towards the opening, revealing the closer they got to it the deeper it went.

Charles pushed his sister forward, making her the first inside. It was a tight space; even she had to dash sideways to maneuver her body in. He moved to grab for Erik, but the larger teen took the initiative of shoving the telepath before him. The ground was shaking as the robot closed the distance. It was right outside the overhang. Where Charles was pressed into the divet, he could see its red eyes gleaming over the other boy’s shoulder.

Without thinking, he grabbed for Erik’s shirt and backed up as far into the hole as they could go. The other teen’s shoulder managed to clear the edge of the wall when Raven hit the back. It was a dead end.

The robot’s arm reeled away. It shot forward with clunky fingers poised to grab them. The palm struck the niche in the wall and everything quaked with a vengeance. The boom reverberated and they wished they could lift their arms to cover their ears. Again - the hand receded and light poured in from behind it. It crashed over the opening and Raven shouted when it sounded like something above them had cracked.

They were cornered. As far as Charles could tell they had only one last option.

“ Erik - we must try again!” Charles yelled over the reverberations, using his iron hold on the boy’s shirt to get his attention.

Erik turned his head around to look down on him. His expression bordered on furious. Charles hoped that it mostly came from the confusion boiling just behind it.

“Try again!? What the hell were you even attempting?!” Erik yelled back, louder and managing to echo over the third strike of the robot’s hand on the wall. Charles shrunk back on reflex, but stood his ground.

“Trying to help! Anger alone can’t sustain your powers!” Charles could feel his own rabid emotions beginning to ferment amongst the chaos. 

He couldn’t help it though; he was frustrated. Erik had pulled away from him right when they were on the cusp of success. He must not have felt it - not understood what was happening. Now trying to explain it would be difficult.

“ Scheiße , stop acting like you understand me better than I do! My powers are my own! I know how to use them!” Erik fumed.

“You know how to use part of them!” Charles fired back.

“Stop fighting!” Raven yelled, only able to hit her brother’s arm in her own attempt to de-escalate their argument.

Then - a warbling screech and the air around them was alight with electricity. A red light overtook their perspectives, briefly bathing the world in nothing but ruby hues. They quickly reeled back, Erik pushing them deeper into their cover when everything trembled.

Red receded and natural light was suddenly pouring into their man-made crevice again. Charles couldn’t see why, his view obscured by Erik’s shoulder. There was another horrible screech, this time the result of metal hitting metal. The warbling cry quickly petered out to nothing until everything was silent. Or it nearly was.

“ Damn .”

Ah. There were the minds finally registering in his awareness. He’d been so consumed in their conflict that neither had been apparent to him. Now they were as plain as day, and he couldn’t hope to mistake the man’s specific tone of pissed off.

Charles tried to tap Erik’s shoulder, in case he wasn’t already aware that it was safe to exit. But the taller boy shifted out of reach, stepping out of their hiding spot with only a steely glance back over his shoulder. Charles huffed, feeling a wave of indignation while he followed behind. Raven was right after him, though tentatively. She didn’t yet know what had saved them.

It couldn’t be missed. 

Logan in all of his stature was poised atop the crumbled remains of the robot body. Where it lay they could see the harsh vertical cuts that exposed its wiring, as well as char marks that blackened its exterior. The head itself looked nearly melted into the hole of its neck. Logan pulled his claws back into his knuckles, appearing more than just a bit annoyed.

But beside him, still on the ground and with his hands in fists on his hips, Scott looked on the verge of popping a vein. It was a wonder that his complexion didn’t already match the red of his shades. Charles braced himself, already anticipating what was to come.

“Should have expected to find you three in here.” Logan muttered, finally hopping down from his perch on the construct. He landed right behind the taller man.

“Well I didn’t.” Scott growled, glancing back at his teammate momentarily, “I remember leaving this room locked .”

“Oh, don’t turn this on me, bub.” Logan returned the sentiment ten-fold. He crossed his arms and did nothing to hide the long role of his eyes.

Scott turned back to them with an expression still steeped in displeasure. His attention shifted between their trio, but even with his shades, Charles knew when it lingered on Erik. For his own part, the older teen neither flinched nor bothered to feign innocence.

“I know that door didn’t break itself.” Scott stated, pointing across the room to the warped metal doors.

“An astute observation.” Erik spoke up, mumbling where he stood beside Charles and Raven. 

Their eyes jumped sideways to stare at him. Charles was consistently shocked with how brazen the other could be when he felt inclined. He might’ve been impressed if it weren’t for the current context.

“Was that meant to be funny?” Scott was hardening before their eyes, his glare turning sharp, “Are you aware just how much you could have hurt yourselves in here? Hurt them ?”

He was gesturing to Charles and Raven now, startling them both by the sudden shift.

“You are blaming me then.” Erik’s eyes widened and he crossed his arms, mimicking Logan’s stance just behind Scott.

“So you didn’t break the door in?” Scott asked, already sounding sure of the answer.

“No, I did that. But you seem perfectly content to blame me for everything else too.” Erik fired back.

“You take the weight of responsibility! When you decide to break the rules and the building.” Scott crossed his arms in return, not backing down as the energy shifted.

And he wasn’t technically wrong - this wouldn’t have happened had they not forced their way in. For most a locked door would be sign enough to stop and turn around. Erik was not like most…unfortunately neither was Raven. Charles had to guess she had some sway in the decision to find out what was in here.

But Erik didn’t appear to have any intention to mention the younger girl’s involvement. Instead of rising to the bait of anger and accusation, the teen turned his gaze away, tsking his tongue with aggravation and shoving his hands into the pockets of his trousers. Scott huffed in turn, accepting the response as a sign of admittance. Erik however was far from acquitting.

“Fine, have it your way.” Erik shook his head, his tone dripping with disdain.

He started stalking past them, leaving Charles and Raven’s side to stride for the Danger room’s door.

“Hey!” Scott called after him, whirling around like he expected the younger to actually stop, “We’re not finished here!”

“Oh, I think we are. I’m just saving you the trouble-” Erik didn’t turn around to reply. His shoulders were hunched and stiff, and Charles felt nothing but a simmering anger wafting off his back.

“Scott, Logan, I’m sorry-” Charles chimed in, desperate now to smooth the situation, “I’m just as much to blame for all of this. Please, don’t-”

“Kid, I find that extremely hard to believe.” Logan sighed, cutting him off. 

Scott growled, he was still watching Erik when he disappeared through the cracked metal doors. Sure enough, he didn’t follow after him. Instead, the man turned back upon the siblings, still standing there with the remnants of shock. Raven had let go of Charles’ person, but still stood very close to him. Her eyes were jumping between the pair of adults and Erik’s vanished form.

“You two,” Scott started, regaining their full attention. The anger had diluted some but was still present, pinching the bridge of his nose and inhaling slowly, “Head back to your room until dinner tonight. Just…think about what could have happened here if we didn’t show up in time.”

They complied without another word. And sure enough, Charles was haunted by the ‘what-if’ as they headed quickly back up to their shared room. However, his thoughts lingered on the other teen. Would Erik have let him back in to try again? What had that expression meant he’d seen from the other right after they’d pulled apart? Had he made the right choice when he’d delved into the boy’s memories?

Closing the bedroom door behind them, Raven finally released the haggard, frustrated shout that had been stewing in her chest since they’d started their climb back up the stairs. She flopped onto her bed with enough force to make the fastenings creak and to send her pillow tumbling into the floor. Charles stepped over to pick it up, tossing it back into her lap before going to the miniature desk chair that occupied his half of the room.

“This is such bull shit!” Raven was hugging the pillow now, digging her nails into the plush fabric as she laid back and glared at the ceiling.

“ Language . Darling, you’re becoming far too comfortable with that kind of talk.” Charles tried to reprimand, but there just wasn’t enough real energy behind it. It sounded more like he was just complaining for the sake of it.

“You can’t tell me this doesn’t make you mad too!” Raven shifted to sit up, staring across at him with the pillow clutched to her chest.

“We did act recklessly…but I’m not at all happy with the unfair treatment we’ve been receiving.” Charles admitted.

It was more than disquieting if he was being totally honest. Even after bringing up his concerns to Jean, some of the X-men still struggled to withhold their biases against Erik. It was all due to their own perceived judgements of the future-version they’d met, which was entirely unfair if not simply cruel. Erik, here and now, had done nothing to warrant their innate suspicion and distrust. Charles didn’t think it was naive to believe the other boy deserved the same benefit of a doubt that many of the X-men had no qualms about bestowing on him.

Truth be told they were all by comparison…softer around him. Uneven and certainly a tad uncomfortable when they addressed him with any real sense of authority. Well, maybe all except for Logan, who didn’t so much carry an authority about him as much as he did a general stoicism and apathy. Still, the general lack of regard for Erik’s own innocence was staggering him. Worse yet, the other boy recognized the discrepancy. He knew the adults still saw him within a lens of villainy.

It was becoming frustrating with no clear end in sight.

“It’s like they’re just waiting for us to do something bad.” Raven huffed, pulling her knees closer to her chest and squeezing the pillow between them. She was burrowing her nose into the cushion, so only her scrunched up glare could be seen over the top.

She certainly hadn’t been spared from the same distrust, though more of the X-men seemed inclined to drop their preconceptions around the twelve year old girl. That didn’t mean that Charles liked the idea of leaving her alone with some of the members, not that he really thought that they’d try to harm her. However, eyes and words often could do as much damage as physical hands. Raven didn’t deserve it in the slightest. Neither did Erik.

It left Charles feeling endlessly frustrated, compounding upon the already present discomfort. He’d been struggling to find any ease at all these days. He wished this wasn’t also a problem they had to contend with on top of it all.

Chapter Text

“Do you think Erik’s okay?”

“Hm?” Charles glanced up from the book he’d had in his lap. 

He’d managed to distance his mind from their earlier blunder, at least partially. While he may not have had any of the research materials he’d been pouring over from the library, he had been trying to catch up on fictional literature they’d missed from the remainder of the twentieth century. He normally wouldn’t consider himself a huge enthusiast of fantasy, but knowing that Tolkien had written a series of follow up novels to The Hobbit had been nothing short of enticing.

Now he was finally noticing Raven was watching him from her side of the room, her own book set closed with its marker sticking out. She’d been engrossed by a similar fantasy series but with characters a little closer to her own age. However, her interest seems to have waned, instead watching her brother with a puzzling expression. He could feel her thoughts turning over, deliberate and troubled. Charles set his own marker in his book and let it rest on the bed in front of his crossed legs.

“...I hope he is.” He responded slowly, “He probably just needs some time to calm down after what happened.”

“What did happen?” Raven met his eye, her expression growing stern. He didn’t miss what she meant.

“I’m not entirely sure either…” Charles sighed, deflating slightly, “But I believe I probably owe him an apology the next time I see him.”

“Yeah…” Raven uncurled her legs from her sitting position on the bed, shimmying off the edge to stand up. She was looking at the clock on the bedside table.

“It’s that time.” Charles observed. The familiar pit of anxiety was coiling in his stomach.

It was inevitable, but he truly wished he could help it. Meal times were complicated. It had been easier when it was just himself and Raven, but coming back to the mansion and joining the larger group to eat wasn’t helping that gnawing sensation that had persisted at the back of Charles’ mind. It was a ball of nerves that unhelpfully diminished any appetite he might have.

“Are you coming?” Raven asked. Her tone was non-judgemental, but she did seem impatient tonight. She’d been feeling antsy to leave again ever since they’d been sent back to their room.

“I don’t think so.” Charles answered, offering a small smile, “Will you be all right to go by yourself?”

“Yeah, I’ll be okay.” She nodded, slipping on her shoes to head downstairs for the dining hall, “Do you want me to bring back anything?”

“No, thank you. I might go down later.”

“What will you do then?” Raven had turned to face him now, her brow furrowed with concern, “Just sit in here all night?”

“No. I think I’ll head back to the Library, actually.” Charles hopped down from his own bed. He still wasn’t used to how unnaturally tall the frames were.

“What about the X-men?” She asked.

It hadn’t gone unnoticed that Charles often skipped group meals. He tried to attend as many as he could but he’d been absent enough to garner attention. Both Jean and Hank had approached him on separate occasions to try and gently broach the subject, checking that he was still in fact eating and if there was anything specifically they could do to fix the problem. The sentiment was appreciated, but Charles did his best to reassure them it was nothing. Because really, it was nothing wasn’t it?

“Well, technically Scott said we ought to stay here until dinner time. Not necessarily that we could only go to the dining hall.” Charles mused, tying the knots on his shoes, “Besides, I’m certain there’s a mess in there I’m still responsible for.”

“Fair enough. I’ll see you later then.” Raven shrugged, offering a small smile before she whisked herself through the door.

When he left the room right after her, she’d already made it out of the long hallway. She must have been in a hurry. Charles wondered with a tint of concern if she’d actually eaten anything earlier that afternoon, or if she’d been too caught up in her explorations of the house. It wasn’t healthy for her unique metabolism to skip meals.

He’d have to check in with her later. For now, he turned in the opposite direction from the dining hall. His telepathy spread out, briefly confirming no one else was nearby before he started on his way. Unfortunately, no one else also included Erik. He wasn’t in his own room. Maybe he was already in the dining hall? He resisted the urge to check for his own reassurance, reminding himself of how bothered the boy had been by his actions earlier. It likely wouldn’t help matters to pry right now.

However, it would be more tempting if for nothing else but the distraction. Walking the halls of the mansion brought back that ever present discomforting itch. It was quiet enough that even as careful as he was, the footfalls echoed against the high ceilings and down the corridor. It wasn’t dark yet, but the sun was on its way to touching the horizon. Where it faced the house, the light cast long, dramatic shadows around every wall and corner.

Charles found himself rolling the tassels of his hooded shirt between his fingers, fidgeting despite himself. His mind’s eye kept scanning the halls in front of him as he walked, hesitating at turns and any off-shoot of unfamiliar sound. He breathed deeply in and out through his nose. He could practically hear his own heart beat thumping in his ears.

A deeper breath, in and out. He tried to walk faster while staying just as quiet. His eyes were lingering on the hardwood floors and its decorative inlays. The wood frames of the windows were a different color now but the shape was the same. The ceiling still had all of its familiar heights and arches, patterns that echoed the era it was built.

It was so quiet. It was so familiar.

He was beginning to feel too warm; sweat was beading along his brow. But he was close now - he just needed to go a little further.

He just needed to remain silent and avoid the floor boards most prone to creaking. He remembered most of them. 

Dust was dancing in the air beside the windows, the light reflecting off the flecks of floating debris. He could see his shadow shifting in a long swipe across the hall as he passed each pane of glass. As he saw it, he became steadily more alarmed. That had been one advantage to the curtains being drawn closed, it made his movement far less noticeable.

Charles felt so sloppy, like he wasn’t walking with the same care he should be. If he let one more thing slip he’d risk being noticed by-

He paused in the middle of the corridor, stalling in the shadow between two windows.

His heart was racing. When had that started? He released his tight grip on his shirt tie to lay his palm over his heart. His cheeks felt impossibly warm.

Damn. Honestly, he was embarrassed for himself.

Charles had let himself forget. The house was different now. He wasn’t back there. He didn’t need to keep his habits - they wouldn’t serve him here.

With his heart rate steadily returning to normal, he tried to walk on. His steps were still silent and purposeful.

He was foolish. This wasn’t that big of a deal. He was being dramatic. He knew very well how to walk down a hall like a normal bloody person…he just didn’t want to. Not right now anyway.

The telepath conceded, but used his remaining attention to note all of the changes in the hallway while he finished his route. The painted, cream walls were glowing against the sun’s rays. The light fixtures above were flat and plain looking, therefore they were easy to overlook. So many of the door knobs to the other rooms he’d passed were a different shape and no longer made of the same, warm brass.

There were enough differences in the surroundings for him to pick out one after the other. He didn’t understand why his mind chose instead to pinpoint the similarities so often. It was entirely unhelpful.

At least he’d managed to make it back to the sweeping room of books with a semi-normal heart rate. When the heavy doors closed behind him he allowed himself an audible, cleansing sigh of relief. Everything was all right. Of course it was.

There was nothing wrong.

Well, except for the mess of materials he’d left open and stacked on two of the room’s study tables. They were all still there, as the school’s Librarian was off for the summer just as most of the students were. There was no one to pick up used items or generally straighten the shelves. However, the telepath had found himself more than willing to take up the mantle for the time being. It was an easy but productive task that still helped him ground himself in just how much there was to catch up on.

Charles stepped over to his earlier readings, organizing the stack of books he’d already finished with to make it easier to shelve them. He still had two or three he wanted to continue and figured while he was out putting the other materials back he could begin collecting the next most interesting pieces for his research. He was presently focused on History and familiarizing himself with modern culture. Although the more scientifically focused tombs tempted him greatly, he needed to stay organized. So far he’d managed to be at least most of the time; he’d only indulged when he wanted a break.

His used books went back up, filling out the shelves again with a satisfying  depth. As he passed others he might slow to skim their titles or push them out from hitting the wall an inch or so. A few caught his interest well enough or were related to his present line of inquiry. He pulled them off, and ended up returning to the table with more titles than he’d left with. Oh well.

Setting the new stack down, he glanced back to the book he’d left open. He’d had his personal notebook tucked underneath the title cover and he pulled it out now to check his notes for where he’d left off.

This here was just the thing he needed to keep his mind busy and off of the pestering itch that lingered under his skin.

- - -

Raven lingered in the hallway just outside of the dining hall. She leaned by the door frame where she could still be obscured in the shadows. But just beside her the warm light was pouring through with the wafting scent of a fresh meal. Her stomach was protesting the delay it was taking to reach it.

Still…she hesitated.

So far she’d attended almost every sit-down meal the household had put together since they’d been re-welcomed into the fold. Unlike her brother, she’d been more keen on using the opportunity of the shared meals to familiarize herself in the new environment. It had taken so few meetings for the girl to realize she was vastly behind in…what felt like everything.

When the spring semester was still in session, Raven had spent time eavesdropping and skirting the borders of a few of the social groups to try and establish what it was really like around here. If her early encounters with Kitty and Kurt hadn’t been evidence enough, she knew for certain then that she was completely lost on social language now.

‘Sick’ still meant ill, but it also meant good. A ‘goat’ was an animal but could also be an analogy of some sort; she suspected it was a positive one. ‘Tear it up’ was very seldom meant literally anymore, and neither were words as simple as ‘lit.’

There were some terms that she was still trying to figure out what they meant at all. A few were easier to draw connections on. For instance it hadn’t taken her long to connect that ‘sus’ was simply a shortened version of ‘suspicious.’ But currently she was the most puzzled over ‘rizz.’ She also hadn’t decided yet if Logan’s use of ‘bub’ had any new meaning she should be worried about or not.

However, it wasn’t just her lack of education of lingo that kept her from barreling into the dining room. At first she’d suspected it may have been the culprit. She’d try and talk with some of the other mutants, the X-men, during meals but often left them feeling stilted and off. It felt like she was missing something. But it wasn’t just language. No - she’d long suspected now it had more to do with the looming figure of her future version.

She’d gathered a few more details from Hank and some from Logan, who she was grateful didn’t care so much about cushioning details. He also so far seemed the least affected by her presence out of all of the members of the team. But from them she learned that many of their group had a personal history with Mystique . She didn’t exactly sound…nice.

Thus it didn't take long to figure out that said history still seemed to be tinting others' perception of her. It led to clipped responses and uncomfortable glances, leaving Raven on the receiving end of many of the group’s discomfort and her own disappointment. She couldn’t help it. The shapeshifter had expected a more welcoming atmosphere amongst a group of supposed outcasts. She’d expected them to be more like her.

Or maybe the problem was that even now she still wasn’t like them, time variation or not.

It left her with more reluctance to join the group dinners in the evenings now that the summer months were here. Before she’d been able to disappear into the crowds of staff and students. Now it was just the older X-men and a handful of the students that hadn’t gone home for one reason or another. She couldn’t hope to hide in plain sight anymore. She was exposed before a room of people she knew didn’t like her for reasons she couldn’t really control.

The feeling left her overly tempted to shift back into her blonde disguise. Maybe if she didn’t resemble the Mystique they all remembered they’d be more likely to stop associating them?

She’d actually tried it once already - heading down to the dining hall one night by herself with her blue skin turned pale and her red hair exchanged for bouncing, blonde curls. This form in its own way was an odd comfort. It was like wearing a sheet, a cover she knew wasn’t real but it let her walk amongst others without barriers. It was the form she’d taken to be adopted into Charles’ family; convincing the then slightly less inebriated Mrs. Xavier that she resembled her enough to be passable as one of their own.

It was a disguise. It was fake. But it was safe.

However, that same night she’d crossed paths with Erik before making it downstairs. He hadn’t recognized her at first, not until she’d spoken to him with clear familiarity. He’d recognized her voice before he recalled the face she used when they’d traversed the city together. Noticeably his frown had deepened and he’d spoken bluntly.

“Why do you look like that?” He’d asked. His eyes had scanned behind her, like he expected someone else to be around that she’d need to disguise against. He’d assumed they were in trouble.

“No reason…” She’d lied, shrugging her shoulders and shifting from one foot to the other, “I’m just hungry.”

Raven had tried to deflect the focus onto something else: what Erik was up to, if he was hungry too, why he didn’t eat with them more often. But he’d barreled over her attempts, his eyes calculating before appearing to come to his own conclusion.

“You don’t like how you look?” He’d posed it as a question, but she suspected he’d already decided the answer.

She’d been frozen for a moment, taken by surprise by how brazen the question was. Her mouth opened then closed again, not sure how to answer. Raven considered the few times she’d talked about this very subject with her brother; what Charles had said to her when she worried.

He’d told her that her mind and heart were beautiful - that was what mattered. Peoples’ perspectives of beauty would always change and shift, they’d differ from person to person, so she should always focus on her values and self-betterment first. If she did that, she’d find both relationships and life more fulfilling.

It was corny…and it never really satisfied the burning question she posed. Charles had the advantage of knowing what people thought of him when meeting, be it his personality or his physical presence. Raven didn’t have that luxury; her gift involved changing and disguising what she really looked like. Her only hope of fitting in had been to shift. So while Charles had offered her self-fulfillment novels, she’d taken just as many peeks into the periodicals at the corner stores. She had to keep up with what people considered to be normal.

And now this young man was waiting for her to explain why she didn’t like her natural appearance enough to keep it. He didn’t understand why she’d use it if it wasn’t necessary. He didn’t get it…but why not?

“...I just thought I’d slip into something a little more comfortable.” She eventually found the words to answer, a joking tone to try and pass off the long stint of silence.

“For who?” Erik asked next, arching a questioning brow, “You, or them?”

“Oh. Uh…” Raven was trying to answer faster this time. Technically it was both, wasn’t it? But instead she answered, “...I don’t know.”

Erik had sighed then, a quick exhale from his nose before he moved to walk past her. Or that's what she’d thought he was doing - but he’d stopped right beside her. The teenager placed his larger hand on her shoulder, glancing sideways down at her with an expression that looked both annoyed and somehow tender. She’d blinked up at him owlishly.

“Raven…you wouldn’t see a tiger and think to cover up its stripes, would you?” He’d asked coolly.

She was confused, but shook her head ‘no.’

“Then don’t hide your own.” Erik stated simply, shrugging his shoulders as if it was the plainest concept.

But the idea was like fireworks to the twelve year old. Once more she found herself frozen in the hallway, staring up at the other with a sudden reverie. She blinked once. Then twice - and soft blue eyes shifted back to yellow. Erik’s frown left, quirking halfway into a satisfied smirk. Sensing the encouragement, Raven’s scales fluttered beneath the hand still covering her shoulder, letting pale and unblemished skin turn back to her natural indigo scales.

She blinked again, and his smile widened. His hand patted her shoulder as he nodded, his approval clear and infectious.

“There’s the little tiger.” He muttered to her, letting his rare smile linger.

His hand left her and the teen began walking into the dining room by himself. Raven watched his retreating back at first, silent and still before the impact of his words manifested into a bright, beaming grin across her face. She hadn’t been able to stop smiling even when she entered the dining room herself, forcefully willing it into something more casual to disguise her happiness. It was the first time someone had ever directly complimented her natural appearance.

The memory was like gold now, and she wished she could clutch it in her hands as a physical reminder of the boy’s words. She coveted the reassurance, more than ever in her time of insecurity. Raven so badly wanted the other members of the house to feel that same way, or at the very least to not look at her like she was some kind of wary creature. But she didn’t know what else she could do.

Raven wished Erik was there now to go into the dining room with her. He was nowhere in sight, clearly still pissed off about earlier. She felt responsible for it too after she’d been the one that had messed around with the computer and started the machines. It was an accident, but Scott had still taken it out on the older teen like they’d planned to cause trouble.

And with no sign of the older boy, she was regretting telling Charles that she’d be fine without him tonight. She always preferred it when he came with her, but knew about his aversion to eating in front of others. It stemmed from their early years in the mansion, but Charles clearly still remembered the disastrous excuses for ‘family meals’ with far more clarity than she did. There was very little for it.

She was on her own for this one.

Turning her head, she could hear the voices leaking through the kitchen from the dining hall. She knew that most of the main team were already gathered inside. She could make out the loud voice and thick accent of Rogue, a younger member of the group but still an adult in her own right. She seemed nice, but Raven still didn’t feel confident enough to approach her. The woman’s first encounter with Raven after their group officially returned hadn’t exactly been…welcoming. Rogue had taken one look at Raven and her expression had twisted into something contrite and pained, before averting her eyes completely and letting herself be the first to leave the room.

Logan was clearly already amongst the group too. His voice carried in whichever argument he was sharing with Scott right now, the man’s own voice steadily rising to match the Wolverine’s. But while Logan was easily one of the most neutral amongst the team, he still hadn’t exactly been a warm presence she felt she could get closer to, no matter how much she appreciated his honesty.

By that point Raven knew that the moment she walked in, all of the conversation would be dampened by her presence. It was becoming more and more challenging to work herself up to it. She was beginning to just rethink the whole thing. Maybe it’d be better if she skipped this one? She could grab some food from one of the upstairs kitchens instead, maybe join her brother in the library or go looking for Erik. It sounded worlds better than facing the X-men right now.

“You okay?”

Raven startled, turning at the sound of the voice. She hadn’t noticed when a body began blocking the light streaming in through the doorway, and continued to miss it when it stepped out next to her. The mutant in question hadn’t even been using her powers to sneak up on the younger girl, Raven had just been that lost in her thoughts.

But standing there now, Kitty was appraising the smaller girl with a patient but concerned eye. She had a small smile, an oversized hoodie and was carrying a large, empty bowl. Raven relaxed some, releasing a quiet breath.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” She lied. There was very little temptation to spill her woes to the other girl when they’d spent so little time together. She got the sense that the younger X-men was kind and fiercely loyal to the group; she’d been one of the students to stay at the mansion even after the semester ended.

“Yeah?” Kitty’s eyes shifted from Raven back towards the dining hall. She looked considerate.

“Yeah,” Raven pressed, standing back from the wall some, “I was just…going in.”

Actually, she still wasn’t sure she could really shake her trepidation. Raven would really prefer to avoid the trouble tonight. Kitty however was perceptive, more than she’d initially give the girl credit for.

“Well, if you are up for it, you could grab a plate and join me in watching a movie upstairs.” Kitty suddenly offered, widening her smile and holding up the large bowl in her hands, “I was just about to fix the popcorn.”

Raven found herself pausing again, letting the question sink in. No, it was an invitation. There was the chance it was only given out of a sense of obligation to be kind, but Kitty had a way of asking it that didn’t feel pitying. Her countenance was warm and calm, it actually reminded the younger girl a bit of her older brother. 

It was also a clear compromise. Raven didn’t feel at all up to the challenge of interacting with the adult members tonight, but Kitty herself felt less like an official X-men and more like any other student. The girl was more like an older peer that was extending a friendly offer. 

Raven didn’t let herself hesitate for much longer, feeling a new bubbling of excitement swell up in her chest for the first time since that morning. She smiled suddenly and nodded her head to accept before her mouth even had time to open.

“Yeah! That-that sounds sick.” Raven grinned. She gave herself a little mental point for what she believed was another proper use of the lingo. It earned her a brief laugh from the older girl and another smile.

“Great, I can show you the best technique to make a lot of popcorn all at once.” Kitty chuckled, leading her finally through the open door frame and into the kitchen.

Raven followed right behind, shedding her earlier nerves and letting herself feel her scales flutter. She was excited, even though she could still hear the older X-men conversing loudly in the next room. Kitty’s own gaze wasn’t judgemental or bothered by her small display of joy. Her own eyes were alight and genuine, managing to calm any lingering doubts. This was a true opportunity, even as casual as the setting might be. It felt far too significant for Raven to really be anything but thrilled.

She was going to get to eat and watch a film with another mutant that wasn’t bothered by her appearance or its associations. Raven could practically feel the physical weight lifting from her shoulders, moving now more freely amongst the kitchen.

Chapter Text

There was a fire in his father’s office.

Smoke billowed up to fill the high ceilings while shadows danced along the walls with wild abandon. The heat was suffocating, but standing in the midst of it, Charles found his breathing only slightly labored. He was standing completely still, and letting the flames lick his feet and hands, growing closer and far more bold.

In and out - deeper breaths.

A larger shadow filled the spot just in front of the window. It stood there, mimicking Charles and refusing to move. It had wide shoulders, a long torso and a neck with what must have been a head above it. It couldn’t be perfectly made out. He gulped, watching the form loom and crackle at the edges. He and it were kept separate only by the heavy wooden desk and the thrashing fire. There were no visible eyes, yet still he could feel it watching him. It was just as shocked by his presence as he was its.

Distantly, he heard someone scream. Charles thought it might be his mother if she were caught in this fire too. But quickly the sound changed and all he could hear was the frantic whistling of a kettle. No one else was here - it was just him. Not even the shadow was truly present; distantly he recognized the form as nothing but a puppet from the fire’s smoke. It withered away until it totally vanished.

It was getting hotter. His vision of the room was becoming fuzzy and Charles registered he was on the verge of passing out. He held his breath, as if it could do any good now. Still, he refused to move. Why couldn’t he just move already?

Something decided to act for him. A limb wrapped around his chest, under his arms to lift him up and off his feet. Blinking rapidly, he watched the office vanish into the distance, framed by the fire and fading away. The world around him was shaking and the flames persisted as if they were pursuing him. It was getting closer, outpacing the body pulling him backward.

‘ You’re a weak fool- ’

He knew the voice. He froze on instinct, even as he was continuously pulled and dragged.

‘ -couldn’t save your own damn self. ’

It was sneering, cruel and biting. Charles could feel the hold around his middle tightening until it became painful. His breathing was shallow now but he didn’t dare fight back.

‘ Why not let others die for you. ’

This time Charles gasped and felt something lodge in his throat. He started struggling against his savior but regardless they kept moving backwards. The fire was gaining on them and Charles could feel the sweat dripping down his back. The pressure against his chest was oppressive. He could pass out. He gasped again but-

A large hand found his throat. It squeezed and he shouted silently through his closing airways. He was losing himself even as his resistance grew more frantic. He was trying to pry the fingers away, beating his other hand against the arm that held him back from the fire. The crackling of the house around him was like pop rockets shooting off in his ears. He was overwhelmed, restrained and helpless.

He couldn’t get away. The fire was getting closer. The hand on his throat grew tighter. Charles was finally losing his composure as if just now realizing his life was in danger. He wanted to scream but it was impossible. He tried to gasp but it was stuck.

He was stuck.

The fire was getting worse.

He couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t escape.

He was stuck.

He was stuck.

He was -

- - -

Charles gasped, feeling the air rushing into his lungs to produce a sudden round of harsh coughs. His throat was burning and for a moment he thought he felt the hand still squeezing it. Cool air met his fevered flesh and he realized it was nothing but a stinging sensation ravaging the inside of his neck. He’d developed a sore throat.

He blinked and cast his telepathy out. No one else was around. He was alone. There was also very clearly no fire, just the library and a myriad of books and notes he’d left scattered on the table in front of him. The warm light of the desk lamp was all he had to illuminate his view. One of the pages of his notebook was smudged by dabs of moisture, what must have been the sweat he could still feel cooling against his forehead.

Gulping down the lump still in his throat, Charles pulled himself back into his mind. He’d been dreaming - or rather he’d been having a nightmare. He certainly didn’t remember falling asleep. How long had he been here?

He glanced to the clock on the far wall…it was almost an hour past midnight. He’d been gone for a while now. The last time he remembered checking the clock it hadn’t even struck nine yet. Charles knew that he’d missed dinner. They would have already packed any of the leftovers up into the fridge hours ago. Did Raven make it back okay?

Shit. His head hurt.

Tentatively, Charles reached out to locate her. Relieved, he found she was in bed and well on her way to deep sleep. Now, what about Erik? The telepath had expected to find the other boy likewise in his room and sound asleep, but was surprised to note a conscious mind. He wasn’t merely absent from his room…the boy was on the roof.

Charles staggered suddenly to his feet. He was wobbling and the world was spinning unnaturally for a moment before he managed to regain his bearings. The house was quiet. Almost everyone was in bed by now with only a handful either struggling to find rest or outright avoiding it. 

The telepath had become somewhat familiar with the Wolverine’s habit to either drink into the night or wander the grounds with absent thoughts. A few other members of the X-men also struggled to find genuine rest, though tonight proved an exception for a few.

It made the house so quiet.

It may have been part of the delirium of waking up in a strange position and from a horrible dream, but Charles found himself stepping away from the table with just enough forethought left to close up his books and notes before starting for the door. His feet were on autopilot, leading him out of the Library and through the manor to the stairs. He went up, a vague thought spurring him higher on the steps to find the source of troubled thoughts.

Maybe this was just a tactic to deflect from his own dream. He didn’t want to unpack yet what he already suspected it came from. Charles didn’t feel like it was the right time. There were too many other problems he’d yet to solve and too much that needed his attention here . It’d have to wait - that bothersome itch be damned.

When Charles stepped out onto the roof he felt the heavy, evening humidity aggravate his still sore throat. There was a breeze that helped cool the temperature down, but his hands and back felt clammy from the lingering sweat and added mugginess. He took a deep breath, focused on the mind just on the other side of the roof. With slow steps he began walking over.

Erik had his back to him, though he was well aware that the telepath was there. He was leaning along the white railing that was beginning to chip and expose the dark metal beneath, his arms crossed over one another. His eyes were staring out towards the grounds, vaguely registering the swaying trees as the winds blew by. Charles stopped by his side, keeping only about a foot between them when he settled his own arms against the rail.

For a moment Erik didn’t visibly or verbally acknowledge him, unmoving from his position. He looked so focused, and simultaneously so distracted. There was anxiety rolling across his surface thoughts and beneath that the telepath knew the storm raged on. He could still recall what it felt like to submerge his consciousness amongst it.

When it became obvious that the other wasn’t ready to talk, Charles turned his gaze up. The moon and stars were out in equal measure. They provided just enough illumination for the teens to see one another and to watch the distant landscape sway lazily with the wind. There were clouds coming in from the horizon but they were far enough out not to cause concern.

Finally, Charles sighed and let his shoulders deflate. Erik wasn’t going to be the first one to speak, at least not for a while yet. They both knew that they needed to talk - at the very least before the wet air made his voice useless.

“...I’m sorry for earlier.” Charles began. He pulled his hands deeper into his sleeves and fiddled idly with the ends. Despite the summer temperatures, there was a chill racking his nerves.

“I should have offered you a better explanation for what I was doing, and why .” He went on, “I’d just assumed it would be obvious.”

A beat of silence followed.

“And…I’m sorry for how Scott treated you earlier. Are you doing all right?” Charles prompted. He was still worried about that, and the impact it could have on the other’s outlook to stay here. Granted he wouldn’t blame him if it did. They were all pretty undecided on what their futures looked like. It was only a matter of time until they had the forged documents that would let them move about the world again.

Erik’s expression shifted, his brow softly furrowing under the moonlight. The telepath waited again for him to say something, fighting his urge to at least read the others' surface thoughts and decipher what was taking so long. Was the metal bender really so upset with him now that he would ignore him until he went away? Did he hate him? That thought alone was making the telepath’s nerves fray and splinter.

But then, mercifully the other released an audible sigh. Erik ducked his head to run his hand back through his red tinted hair and push his bangs away from his face. With a better line of sight now Charles could tell the boy was tired, well and truly exhausted. Guilt squeezed his heart.

“I’d be better if you stopped looking at me like a lost fawn.” Erik grumbled, and despite the clipped tone the simple sound was enough to calm the atmosphere.

“Ah, sorry-” Charles spoke again, turning away to instead stare out at the rolling fields of grass and brush. From up that high it was still possible to spot the older farm lands that made up part of the estate.

“You do just seem lost in thought, is all.” Charles tried to prompt, hoping it would get the boy to keep going. It was a success, but not in the direction he hoped.

“Hmm, been poking around lately? See anything else interesting?” Erik asked, but the harsh bite was weak compared to their earlier confrontation.

“I don’t know that you’ve noticed, but I’ve upheld my promise. I haven’t gone into your mind without permission.” Charles knew it wasn’t exactly a tactical response, but he was too tired to really be all that careful.

Except Erik didn’t jump back with another angry quip or even a pointed glare. When the silence persisted, Charles spared a glance to try and tell what had changed. Steel eyes were already turned towards him, not flinching an inch when they both realized they’d been caught. He simply blinked, and the telepath followed the shine of light where it sparked against the color.

“Earlier…” Erik began, showing the most idle hint of nerves where he shifted his hands over the metal bars, “You said something. It was about my powers.”

Charles blinked back, then nodded slowly. He remembers saying a lot of things in the heat of the moment, so waited for him to go on.

“You said…that I’ve only been using part of my powers.” Erik finished.

Ah, right. It was the reason the whole issue had started.

“What did you mean?” Erik asked the golden question. 

They were no longer at the whim of a murderous robot or the X-men’s own stellar timing. Charles hoped he could finally explain it, if only he could gather the words.

“Well, it’s just that I suppose,” Charles turned where he stood to try and better face the other, “This whole time, you’ve only been fueling your powers one way. Correct?”

“It’s the only way that works.” Erik stood up a little straighter, mirroring his movements. He didn’t seem so confrontational now.

Charles shook his head.

“I think there’s more. I’ve glimpsed your mind Erik. Your whole life you’ve relied on anger and rage to use your gifts.”

“It’s gotten the job done so far.” Erik’s tone bordered on sarcastic, but there was a curiosity just beneath it. He wanted to hear him out.

“It’s nearly gotten you killed.” Charles offered back, shifting on his feet. He was quickly mapping out how to better illustrate this. 

His eyes caught the landscape again and every shadow that peaked in the distance. There were trees and small buildings for the facilities. Someone had left one of the gas-powered carts out in the middle of the tennis field. There was metal fencing around the perimeter of the running track. Then, even further into the distance -

A lone satellite dome stood tall. It was out of service and the only one left of its kind still standing. The X-men had mentioned plans to dismantle it and use the metal for other parts, or if the structure itself could be repurposed for one of Hank’s grand ideas. But for that moment, it was serving no other vital purpose.

Charles glanced back at Erik, then extended his arm to point at the structure. The boy blinked at him, his brow furrowing with confusion. The telepath allowed a small, mischievous smile.

“That satellite there. I want you to move it.” Charles stated simply.

Erik for his own part scoffed, his eyes widening as he dropped his arms from the railing. He looked at the structure then back at Charles. The structure, and then Charles again. For a moment he was amused, but then appeared to realize that the other was entirely serious. 

“Come on, that’s not possible and you know it,” Erik gestured to it now, as if doing so would finally make him realize just how large the thing was.

“I think it is possible. For you, anyway.” Charles nodded, lowering his arm to put all of his attention on Erik.

“I could barely open the front gate, remember? This is too far away and too big.” Erik continued to argue.

“If you only use your anger, then you’re right -” Charles took a step closer, staring straight up and into the steel gray eyes with a burst of conviction.

“I believe there’s more to your gifts, Erik. You can do impossible things if you find the balance you need to control them.” Charles pressed, watching while the boy’s eyes gradually widened.

He held Charles’ gaze, then turned it to the satellite. He paused briefly before releasing a relenting sigh.

“How, exactly? If anger doesn’t work, then what am I missing?” Erik asked.

“Your anger only does part of the job. I believe you need to find a balance between your rage and serenity .” Charles explained, holding his hands up as if in each example.

“Serenity?” Erik looked decidedly unimpressed.

“Yes,” Charles barreled on despite the other’s doubt, “You need both.”

Erik stared him down for a moment. He rubbed the back of his neck, then turned his body to face the field and the large machine just beyond. He inhaled and exhaled deeply before lifting both of his arms with his fingers spread wide. It was like a light switch.

Charles watched with no small amount of reverie as Erik focused in. His mind and his gaze became sharp in equal measure, standing out in the darkness like a beacon only the telepath could see. He’d long realized that watching Erik use his powers really was marvelous. However-

The boy’s arms were beginning to shake. He was tightening up, furrowing his brow and pressing his lips together in a thin line. Veins in his forehead and hands were straining against his attempt to pull the satellite, and as far as either of the teens could tell it had yet to even budge. Charles watched on, chewing his bottom lip. He was just listening on the outskirts of his mind, but he could hear the anger as plain as the moonlight was visible. 

Any attempts at peaceful thoughts were suffocating beneath the red torrent so familiar to him. It wasn’t going to work.

Finally - the strain had proved too much and Erik’s arms fell limp to his sides. He gasped, sweat coating his forehead to try and cool off the exhausted fever that had inflamed his cheeks. The metal bender was leaning over the railing, letting his head hang briefly while he attempted to regain his breath. His knuckles were turning white against their tight grip.

Charles shook his head, but didn’t let the display discourage him. He stepped closer into the other’s space, giving him enough room to stand up right again, his labored breathing evening out. Erik squinted his eyes down at him, a question hanging in the air. But when he made no move or command for him to back off, Charles tentatively held both of his hands up to the other, his fingers held together at the ready.

“May I?” Charles was asking once more, keeping his expression calm and understanding should the other not want this.

Erik looked at his hands, then met his gaze. His eyes weren’t uncertain, and he didn’t hesitate for long; but Charles still could see from them what was holding the other boy back from readily agreeing. He nodded his consent, and yet it remained.

There was fear.

Charles inhaled softly, reaching up to tenderly place his fingertips on either side of Erik’s temple.

“You can hold my arm or my shoulder, if you like,” Charles added, finishing quickly when he received an incredulous expression from the taller, “If you want me to stop, you can just squeeze or push me away.”

Erik glanced between the two options, then placed both of his hands on either of Charles’ wrists. The hold was soft and tentative, a stark contrast to the firm nod the metal bender gave him. He was ready. Charles offered an encouraging smile, holding onto that reassurance when he slipped into the boy’s mind. He was welcomed with ease and reveled in it. Erik’s mind was nothing remotely short of fascinating - an amalgamation of clean lines and frantic energy commanded by the boy’s psyche. He had remarkable control already without Charles’ help.

‘ We just need to find a source for your serenity, my friend. ’ Charles spoke, beginning to search the inner depths. 

He could be much more methodical this time around and avoid barrelling in without the threat of danger. It was a slow and careful process, his consciousness moving between memories and sensations and feelings . Erik had so much more to offer than rage - that much was clear. When he found what they were looking for, it shined with that same warmth, tucked away like something precious. Charles waited only a moment, giving the boy the opportunity to tell him to stop, before dipping in.

Again - A small flame flickered as two candle wicks met. Wax beaded down and fell on a copper menorah while weathered, delicate hands fit the candle back in place. A soft smile, and she reached out to tuck his hair back behind his ear.

Her thumb brushed his cheek and her eyes beamed. The kitchen just behind them was warm and alight with the labors of their cooking. The Berches bread had been removed from the oven just moments before, the offering long having been burned away. His father stood behind them, his large hands placed on their shoulders to gather them closer.

He could feel the embrace, close and loving. His mother’s laughter lit up the room when his father spoke to her. She turned to him then, pulling him even closer. Her lips met his forehead, and one thing overwrote everything else.

He was loved. He was safe.

He was at peace.

When the boys opened their eyes again, both realized their cheeks had become wet. They were crying.

Erik released his hold on Charles and the other boy took the sign to pull away. Quickly, the telepath began wiping away the evidence of the slip. However, when he looked back up Erik hadn’t moved at all. Tear tracks were still flowing fresh down his face and his eyes had become red-rimmed. He was staring forward but paying no attention to the world around him. The telepath might have been worried if he didn’t note the ghost of a smile gracing his lips, or feel the raw contentment pouring from his mind.

He was serene, and basking in it.

“Thank you, Erik. For sharing that with me.” Charles spoke softly, smiling even as he dried a fresh onslaught of moisture trying to escape with the back of his shirt sleeve.

Erik was quiet at first, until a raspy laugh left him shuddering. His eyes shifted back into focus and found Charles standing in front of him. He still did nothing for the tears, letting them fall from his jaw with abandon.

“I…almost forgot about that.” Erik admitted. Even his voice was wet and he needed to swallow a few thicker emotions before he was able to continue, “I didn’t know I could still feel this.”

All Charles could do was smile; he knew words wouldn’t be able to serve him. Not at this moment. Erik laughed again, and finally brought his arm to his face to staunch the flow of tears. The telepath reached out, tentatively placing an encouraging hand on the boy’s arm to draw their attention back out to the horizon. They both turned to face the railing.

“Now…try again. You have both, you can find the balance between them and move that satellite.” Charles said, “If you’re ready.”

He knew he was. And Erik nodded his agreement, breathing deeply a few times and closing his eyes. Charles watched the red return from his own mind's eye - now tinged with warmth and anger in equal measure. He breathed in and out, growing slower and more even as his thoughts swirled. His muscles twitched and he raised his arms, fingers splayed out wide.

The shades of red were churning, throwing themselves against one another. Erik’s arms were stiff and he grit his teeth. He took harder breaths in and then out.  His hands were trembling now, but he reaffirmed where his feet stood on the roof. He was still pushing.

Charles kept watching, his eyes transfixed on Erik whilst the two torrents merged. Then suddenly -

The red waves shifted into clear crystal, a shining and metallic surface that reflected the light pouring from his mind. 

Erik gasped and his arms stuttered. He wasn’t relenting. Steadfast he kept them aloft and heaved another set of heavy breaths. Something was changing. Slowly, Erik opened his eyes and the steel color shined under the moon almost as spectacularly as his brain did. They were entirely focused ahead.

At first, Charles almost thought it was a trick of the night, or a tree shifting off in the distance. But it continued and he knew he couldn’t be mistaken. No, there was no denying it. The telepath was left in utter awe.

Erik was moving the satellite; coercing the structure to pivot gradually around until its expansive dome faced them. Where they stood on the roof it was a looming shape, a foil to the shimmering moon and the boy that stood in opposition to its frozen existence. No longer was it a monument to a time passed.

When the satellite shuttered to a stop, it became adamant proof of the metal bender’s gifts. Erik was staring at it, his arms slowly lowering as he took it all in. He wouldn’t have believed it possible. It shouldn’t have been. And yet…

“Erik!” Charles could not contain his excitement, rushing forward to the boy’s side and grasping his shoulder.

“You did it, my friend! You did that !” Charles reiterated, gesturing to the structure for all its proof.

And Erik was looking at him like he couldn’t decide if he was going to cry again, or burst out into viscous laughter. He was huffing, his arms slumped at his sides. Then the smile broke out across his features - possibly the widest and toothiest grin Charles has ever witnessed. It was stunning. The boy’s laughter was equally so.

His entire countenance was shining. Erik had found the space between rage and serenity. It was better than anything he could have imagined.

Chapter Text

He couldn’t quite place how, but Charles suspected that his and Erik’s relationship had changed that night. 

They’d not only shared in the vulnerability of peace but likewise in the strength that was inherent in Erik’s person; whether he fully realized it now or not. It was a freedom that gave way to a new lightness of mind and body. Erik laughed, then covered his eyes. His smile persisted and he made no attempts to cover up the tear tracks as they made rivers down to his chin.

Charles had felt the world shift and was already emboldened when he leaned forward to clasp his hands over the other boy’s biceps. His own smile was practically aching. Erik dropped his hands from his eyes to look down at him and the brilliant shine hadn’t dared to dim. He was also  making no moves to push the younger away, express any discomfort for the touch or even discourage the gesture.

“I told you-” Charles’ laughter was almost breathless, “You are so much stronger than you realize.”

“Somehow you’re managing to get a swelled head over something I’ve done.” Erik laughed, and the jab was entirely fond.

“I can’t help it when I’m right.” Charles patted the other’s arms before shifting slightly. His smile became smaller and his countenance more serious when he continued, “But I will do everything to try and avoid hurting you in the future for it.”

“It’s all right, Charles,” Erik sighed, deep and rejuvenating. A calm washed over him that was blanketing them both. He leveled his gaze at the telepath and a softness overtook his smile.

“I trust you.” Erik patted Charles’ arm in return, leaning in closer to avoid needing to speak so loud.

“My friend…the feeling is mutual.” Charles’ smile grew again, feeling something pleasant coiling in his chest. 

He was certain in fact - he was deeply and irrevocably touched. Knowing Erik the way he did, Charles understood trust was not something he gifted lightly.

A comfortable silence settled between them, an open space where both felt they could say practically anything and it would be all right. But for the time being, they simply found themselves appraising one another, though Charles didn’t realize it until only a few seconds later, when the air was broken.

Quite suddenly Erik was looking up and turning away with a startled expression. It was all the indication Charles needed to come back into his own awareness and sense the mind coming in through the metal roof door. He was gobsmacked to realize who it was, the identity confirmed when the bright red hair came bounding across the walkway.

Raven paused when she saw them, her bright yellow eyes big and round under the moonlight. 

“Raven? What-I thought you were in bed.” Charles was too busy trying to find an explanation that he didn’t notice the peculiar expression his sister was making when she watched them.

“Well, am I interrupting something?” She asked instead of answering, pointing towards the pair.

“Huh?” It was Erik’s turn to be confused, squinting as he dropped his hands and likewise allowed Charles to remove his from the boy’s arms.

They turned to one another, then looked back at Raven. Charles was perplexed. But now his sister was merely shaking her head and waving her hands, as if dispelling the question entirely. It didn’t matter anymore.

“Nevermind, I only thought Erik might still be up here when I saw you weren’t in your room.” She said, stepping closer to be right beside them and the railing. 

“You went in my room?” Erik’s eyes widened and he frowned.

Ignoring the question, Raven leant her arms out over the edge and glanced up at the moon before turning back to them. She was smiling, no longer confused but overtly pleased with herself. Charles noted she was still wearing her night clothes but had at least managed to throw on a sweater and a pair of rubber shoes in place of slippers.

“I didn’t expect to find you both,” Raven smiled, “but this is more convenient.”

“But - wait - you were just asleep.” Charles asked, though he was getting the distinct impression that Raven was simply too excited to be slowed down. She had news.

“Yeah, but who could possibly stay asleep after the night I’ve had?” Raven bounced on her feet, as if example enough that there was far too much energy present for her to be resting.

“What happened?” Erik arched a brow. 

He had an easier expression once he accepted that Raven wasn’t going to answer a question about any possible privacy breaches. So instead he leaned back against the railing and tried to disguise his attempts to wipe away the little that remained of their emotional purge. Raven’s eyesight was above-average in the dark, but there was no telling yet if she’d noticed. Still, Charles made an effort to distract her.

“Go on, tell us.” Charles sighed, but smiled, leaning over the railing to rest his chin on his hand.

“Okay - okay!” Raven began shifting again to stand a little straighter, “So I went down to get dinner, yeah?”

She proceeded to explain in sporadic detail how she came about watching a film with some of the younger members of the manor. 

Honestly, Charles was just as surprised as he was elated. It was exactly what she’d been hoping for, still feeling the sensations of walking on eggshells around the adults. Though spending time with the others inevitably had unexpected twists. All three of them were still desperately trying to catch up, weren’t they?

“It was just so…I don’t know how to put it into words yet.” Raven puzzled, “Well, it was colorful, for sure. But parts reminded me of us.”

“How so?” Charles asked. He was partly dazed, trying to both listen and process what he was learning. He was getting brief projections from her mind, images that played more like memories than of the kind of film they were familiar with. They’d seen movies with color on occasion, sure, but this sounded like nothing else before.

“It had these three kids, and they’re going around New York doing anything they want. Museums, restaurants, even a parade.” Raven explained, “Oh, and they were running from a school and trying not to get caught. Just like we were.”

“Sounds interesting.” Erik nodded slowly. He was intrigued, “But I don’t remember when we saw a parade.”

“And you know,” Raven went on, “I realized that this might be exactly what we need to be more familiar with this place.”

There was a flicker of nerves in her mind that queued Charles into what was going on. It was the whole point she’d come up onto the roof. 

“The next time they play one of their films, you both should come.” Raven said it with a kind of forced casualness that failed to mask her hope. Her eyes were flickering between them both and trying to gauge their reactions. This was important to her.

“I’m definitely curious.” Charles shrugged, offering a side glance to the other teenager.

Erik tilted his head and appeared to be considering it. There was a pinch of discomfort around the periphery of his mind. Charles considered how Erik had thus far interacted the least with the other members of the house. He wasn’t avoiding people, but likewise wasn’t seeking anyone out. The prospect of being in a full room, submerged in darkness, wasn’t sitting well with him.

“Come on!” Raven was back to bouncing, getting closer to grasp both Charles’ and Erik’s hands, “It’ll help us and it’ll be fun.”

“...Sure.” Erik nodded, sighing with that hint of reluctance he played off as sarcasm. But it worked.

Raven seemed ecstatic.

“The others said they have so many to choose from; an entire stream’s worth!” Raven released their hands to use them to illustrate the sheer mass of the supposed choices.

“It sounds like a great idea,” Charles agreed, nodding as he stood up straighter, “But we can put it all together tomorrow. You still need to sleep.”

“Ooh, spoil-sport.” Raven rolled her eyes, but without any truly heated annoyance. She’d been satisfied for now.

“Ah, but we should follow the spoil-sport’s advice.” Erik stepped forward, reaching out to pat the top of Raven’s bed head. She snorted but moved to shove his hand off when he passed her for the door.

Charles was overcome with gratitude watching the taller boy walk away. Raven was following right after him and moving fast enough that Charles himself needed to catch up. He might still need to persuade her when they returned to actually sleep, but she was offering zero resistance to heading to their rooms when the metal bender was leading the charge. It was a bit mystifying to say the least; she was never usually this eager to follow.

Together the three descended the stairs from the roof and integrated back onto the regular floors of the mansion. They followed the carpeting and hardwood back to their wing and their respective dorms.

As they approached, Erik raised his hand and used his powers to turn the knob on his door. The action was seamless and Erik’s mind was shining with the renewed energy. He’d been able to do the very same thing before, there was no doubt, but there was a shift in the manner he did it. Charles could feel the difference, almost as clearly as he saw the flash of cockiness when Erik did the same for their own door. Charles met his eye with an arched brow and a knowing smile. 

“Good night, Erik!” Raven waved eagerly in the boy's direction before ducking into their room.

The two were left in the hall together for a moment, allowing the metal bender one last chance to flash the telepath his toothy grin. He lifted his hands and wiggled his fingers, seconds later pushing his door completely open, making it appear effortless. Charles laughed under his breath and waved goodnight. Erik hesitated only a second more, as if realizing he had one last thing he wanted to say before just as quickly brushing it away. He nodded to him, and disappeared into his room.

That night, Charles didn’t find himself in any kind of dream, nightmare or subconscious hallucination. Rest found him for what felt like the first time in weeks, maybe months.

He woke up with the light barely caressing their window through the layers of morning mist. Raven was already up and making her bed when she noticed his eyes cracking open. She immediately popped over and violently shook his arm, dispelling any remaining sleep he might have had.

“Come on already!” She said. She released his arm but only began her efforts to steal his pillow right out from underneath him, “You promised to come to breakfast this morning.”

“I don’t remember promising -” Charles knew it was no use arguing; he wouldn’t genuinely try to either. He would however give her grief where he was able.

Unfortunately, Raven had a more fine-tuned talent for it. She was successful in her efforts and quite suddenly Charles’ head was thumping back against the mattress. He groaned, covering his face with his hands as if it would do anything to dissuade her. Of course not, especially now that she had a weapon. His pillow returned, thwapping against his leg and then his shoulder.

“Fine - fine, I’m getting up!” Charles used the duvet as a shield just long enough to get his legs over the edge of the bed and sit up. Raven only ceased her attacks when he raised one leg to try and shove her away with his foot. She backed off quickly and stood there with an excitable grin.

He couldn’t hope to really be mad at her when she was beaming like that.

But annoyed? Yes, that he could be.

“Then hurry up! I’m going to go across the hall while you get dressed.” She declared, throwing his pillow onto her own bed just in case he considered going back to sleep.

“Go on then and get out,” Charles waved her away, rubbing his eyes and resisting the urge to yawn.

She was out the door without paying any heed to his crabbiness, not fazed in the slightest. She’d probably only be ten or so minutes, so Charles reluctantly hopped down from his bed and used a moment to stretch his shoulders and back. He really only needed to make himself presentable to be in front of others.

He nabbed a shirt and trousers from the standing closet then added one of the borrowed sweaters to layer over. Charles often found himself wondering during this daily ritual when and how they might go about getting their own clothes again. Not that he wasn’t grateful for what they had been given, of course. However, the semblance of normalcy from having their own belongings was what mattered in the long run, considering if they’d ever feel normal period.

Charles was tying up his shoes when Raven came back, knocking twice before throwing the door open. She remained out in the hall, holding her arms out wide with an expectant expression.

“Come on!” She called into the room. There was a very distinct, though muffled snort from the hall. Charles peeked out and spotted Erik standing not far behind her with his arms crossed. It was a bit of a surprise seeing the other so early - typically he wouldn’t join them in the library until a few hours after sunrise. However, the telepath was unabashedly happy for the change.

“Raven, you’d think you were starving.” Charles rolled his eyes, securing his shoe and finally joining the other two outside. He nodded to Erik, “Good morning, my friend.”

Erik had a relaxed expression, greeting the telepath wordlessly with a nod. He had on a pair of running pants and a dark, long-sleeve shirt. The fit was perhaps a tad small on him, once again raising the question for when they might be able to go shopping. Also, how would they afford shopping? The thought was beginning to open a larger chest of questions and it was far too early to be delving into it.

“How do you know I’m not?” Raven jabbed back. She was starting down the hall, not waiting for them to keep up.

Charles relented the point. He glanced at Erik with an easy smile, who shrugged with a sense of defeat, before they both began to follow her. Raven had swells of extra energy compared to either of them. All they could do was make haphazard attempts to keep up or shows of enthusiasm when she whirled around to find herself still leaps ahead.

It wasn’t like they were late or that they’d miss anything if they didn’t get downstairs at a specific time. The larger, pre-prepared meals were more for the semester months when the house was packed with kids both young and old. Once it had ended, mornings and afternoons were a far more casual affair where each member of the house helped themselves; unless someone offered to make a plate for everyone. Likewise, most of the manor’s occupants got up at vastly different times.

When they arrived down to the dining hall it wasn’t all that surprising for the seats and tables to be empty. There was some evidence that another person had already helped themself; a chair was left pushed out from a table and a coffee ring sat on the surface just in front. There was a smell of bacon and something vaguely cinnamon that floated around them, leading straight to the kitchen.

Erik and Raven forged ahead into the next room, leaving Charles to linger for a moment in the large dining hall. It could be blamed on the early hour, but he found his mind wandering again.

Who had already been there? Should they expect others to be down soon, expecting to use the same kitchen? His telepathy registered a few of the identities already awake, keeping a tab on where they were in the building. It was an old habit, one he was far more reluctant to stop.

Scott and Ororo were awake already, and they seemed to be on their way to a different part of the house to meet with Jean. Logan was awake, though Charles couldn’t recall many examples of catching the man asleep. Dr. McCoy was in his lab - blissfully though inconveniently - asleep on one of his stations. A few of the other teenagers and children were either still deep in the throes of sleep, or just beginning to wake up. These late-risers may begin heading for the kitchens too, so they would need to expect company.

Charles had to remind himself that all of this vigilance really wasn’t necessary anymore. It shouldn’t be.

He peered around the room, looking past the many tables, plastic chairs and refurbished windows. He recognized this room as one of the old dance halls, meant for large gatherings filled with guests dressed in high-end luxury. When it wasn’t being used for these purposes, it was typically closed up with the windows shuttered and only an occasional dusting to discourage cobwebs. When the Markos moved in, Kurt had primarily used the room not for parties but instead as a show-hall for trophies and lavish purchases.

“ Charles, what are you waiting on? ” Raven called loudly from behind the kitchen door.

The telepath came back to himself, stepping outside of his own mind and blinking back into the moment. Shaking his head, Charles released an unsteady breath and headed for the door.

The scene he walked into was a more welcome image. Raven was lifting a jug of orange juice up over a cup for herself. Erik had positioned himself by the stove, already putting the kettle on the burner for both his coffee and Charles’ tea. The telepath smiled and quickly joined the routine, getting out from one of the cabinets both the instant coffee and black tea. Erik in kind passed him a small mug.

They dug around the room and found the source of the earlier smells. The X-men quite often kept bacon and eggs in large quantities in the house, enough that Charles hadn’t worried as much about portions going noticed when they took them. But in addition to the morning staples, Raven had found a frozen pastry in the ice box, which must have been the source of the faint smell of spices. The box simply read: French toast sticks . The shapeshifter was overly eager to try them.

Charles relented, and went about trying to figure out the oven settings to follow the preparation instructions while Erik began crisping bacon. The metal bender had grown considerably more comfortable with the upgraded appliances; that included the televisions placed in surprising quantities around the house. Now he was showing Raven how to turn the screen on where it was embedded in the wall across from the center counter.

Thus far, television had been a tad…overwhelming to say the least. Often the programs provided no context for what was being said or reported on. The speakers and sound effects were considerably louder than they’d ever remembered them being, including for the large theaters back in the day; everything sounded so realistic now. Images moved faster, the colors were bright and unapologetic and something that should have been mundane - like the news - often felt like fictional action sequences.

It was the first thing to pop up when they turned on the device, seeing a reporter giving a brief account of the weather for the day while they stood in front of a brightly colored screen of moving maps and graphics. Raven lingered briefly, but then pressed buttons on the slim remote to rapidly begin changing the channels to find something else to watch. Charles quickly averted his eyes, feeling a bit dizzy at how quickly the images were flashing against his eyes.

It was then he caught sight of Erik by the stove. The boy was still standing in front of the burners, his hands holding the skillet and the spatula, but his gaze was turned towards the monitor. His eyes were steely and his grip on his utensil tight. The metal bender said nothing as Raven switched between channels, but Charles could sense the other’s desire to return to the news.

Erik had spent a significant amount of time in the library with them, studying and catching up on the years that they’d lost. However, out of the three of them, he was the one most intent to fit in current events to that research. He wanted to know what was going on out in the world right this moment. Charles felt most of it would be lost on them without context first.

The impatience was understandable, and so he said nothing when he approached the stove again to remove the kettle from the heat. Erik turned to him, a little surprised to find the pot had been whistling and nodded his acknowledgment to Charles for grabbing it. The telepath smiled, trying to return to the ease he felt when he first walked into the room. It was a lot easier when he was standing by Erik’s side, and with his sister just outside his periphery.

Raven ended up landing on an animated feature that Charles remembers catching her watching before - it had an underwater premise and was extremely silly. The goofy dialogue was an odd background noise to accompany them while they finished making breakfast, but he brushed off any unease. Regardless of what he thought of it, the program made Raven laugh. In this moment she could just be a kid, and that was all he wanted.

Even Erik lightened up after it was put on, dropping any intent he had on watching the morning news. After they’d sat around the counter’s bar with their food and their drinks, the metal bender became almost as enthralled with the tv again as Raven was. He knit his brow in between bites of fluffy pastry and sips of coffee.

“I don’t understand why these two are friends.” Erik mumbled, “The starfish is an idiot.”

“Shhh-” Raven waved her hand dismissively at him, and yet still countered his question, “Opposites attract, or something. I don’t know. They just are.”

Charles couldn’t help his amused snort, covering it with a long sip of his tea when Erik turned to look at him. He couldn’t quite tell without reading the boy's mind if he was glaring at him for laughing, or because he was simply left speechless from the show’s absurdity. It might be a bit of both.

However, the moment was stilted when Charles became aware of the minds approaching the dining hall. It must have shown on his face, because Erik sat up a little straighter in his chair. His expression grew serious, and the telepath could hear his thoughts turning on the defensive. He tried to reach out quickly to reassure him.

‘ What’s wrong? ’ was Erik’s first question when he allowed Charles into his surface thoughts.

‘ Nothing - sorry. We’re just about to have company. ’ He explained, following it quickly with, ‘ A few of the younger members. ’

Erik relaxed some, but not entirely. He even seemed a tad annoyed when he stood up and took his empty plate to the sink to wash it. Raven paid no mind to the boy, taking another bite of the crisped cinnamon sticks on the plate while her eyes remained glued to the screen. The telepath sighed and stood as well, rounding the counter to assist the other with cleaning up their mess. He was trying not to count the beats that passed, waiting for the minds to wander closer.

Finally, voices began filtering in from the echo in the dining hall. Raven perked up then. Her head turned to land yellow eyes on the door.

“- ’re being totally unfair. ”

“ I’m a realist, Bobby. ”

“ No - no, I’m telling you. The finale was fake. There’s a secret episode that’s gonna air! ”

“ Just admit it kid, that show- ”

The voices became clear, losing any distortion as the kitchen door parted and allowed the two figures to enter.

“-sucked ass!” Rogue declared with no shortage of annoyance in her tone.

The woman rolled her eyes away from her companion, leaving Bobby behind her with a pout on his lips. In doing so, she was the first to take note of the others already in the room. She stilled at once. Consequently, the younger teenager continued walking right into her back, bouncing off as if burned.

“Shit - Rogue, warn a guy would you? I mean -” Bobby’s complaint came to a halt, his eyes widening.

The room was quite suddenly very, very quiet.