#druwrites

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

Charles. All he could see was Charles. 

Erik and Charles have one last interview before they go home. The train ride home is not the victory lap that they deserve.

Chapter 24: Homecoming

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

(Cover by the wonderful @connisk! Thank you so much, again!)

Erik knew one thing about the story for sure; even if the Capitol created him, he was no one’s property.

~~~

Erik Lehnsherr’s last reaping was supposed to pass him by easily - as a mutant orphan protecting his kind in the home, his concerns are mostly about finding a job in the mutantphobic district, keeping the kids safe when he moves out and being charged as an adult for regularly hunting outside of the dome.

Everything changes, however, when Charles Xavier, the son of a victor who killed himself, volunteers to save his sister - and then Erik himself gets reaped.

Trapped in the games that represent everything he hates when his very survival depends on him pretending to tolerate them, Erik is starting to feel more and more like he’s part of something bigger than himself and something he can’t control. And it isn’t engineered only by the capitol - but by Charles Xavier himself.

Chapter 1: District 12 - Where You Can Starve Safely

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

Before he could think twice of how to phrase it though, in his shock he immediately uttered, “you’re not coming with us, Charles.”

Charles’ face immediately twisted into one of outrage, “I beg your fucking pardon, Erik?”

Piotr’s eyes shifted between the impending argument of the two of them, and he stood up, moving backwards slowly, “ummmm, I’ll give you guys some privacy.” 

Charles' plan is revealed. Charles and Erik disagree on whether or not Charles will come with them.

Chapter 20: Be Our Guest

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

He collapsed in Charles’ arms, the confused boy hugging him tightly to his chest, and he let the rain soak them through, letting their clothes get dirty with the muddy ground.

The aftermath of Piotr's death. Erik and Charles can almost taste victory.

Chapter 21: Poison

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

Jean’s district mate has been the furthest thing from his mind ever since the games had started. He remembered that when he first saw Piotr Rasputin he had noticed him for all his tall and muscular glory, his stoic smiles but unthreatening aura - and he remembered that he was intimidated. He immediately marked him as a threat, told himself he should keep an eye out for Rasputin. But since the games started, somehow he slipped his mind, even when Jean teamed up with them - the more obvious, present threat at the time seemed to be the Careerists.

And yet now here he was, threatening to break Charles’ neck in his chokehold. 

Erik and Charles meet Piotr.

Chapter 19: Colossus

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

“Right now, the districts are seeing the funeral as Erik and Charles saying there is no reason to believe in the games, but we can give them something to believe in.”

Stryker looked doubtful, but asked curiously, “such as?”

Logan took a deep breath. It was now or never. “Young love.” 

Logan is willing to do anything to save Charles. Erik is still cautious about the rule change.

Chapter 18: New Rules

[ironhusband]

to not know who i am (i'm good as long as you're here with me)

Charles changed many things for him - he gave him the first home he had in years, offered to build with him a family he could protect this time and he made him believe.

No, Erik still didn’t believe in the goodness of humanity or all the specifics of Charles’ cause, he didn’t believe in destiny or soulmates or true love. But he believed in Charles.

~~~

Erik never had a Bar Mitzvah. Charles thinks that it a travesty.

Read it here!

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

He looked up at the pitch black sky, knowing the rescue should come any minute now. Any minute now. Any… minute… now.

“Erik,” Charles said, and Erik noticed that the ringing in his ears had stopped and Charles’ voice was no longer competing with another to be heard. His voice still sounded muffled, and distant, though. In the light of the flames, he could see clearly that Charles’ face was etched in concern. “What is happening?” he could manage to understand, half comprehending it from lip reading.

Erik could only shake his head and say, “I have no idea.” 

Erik and Charles are the only ones left. An announcement is made.

Chapter 23: The Victors

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

With their hands entwined like they had so many times before, Erik stepped forward and levitated Charles along with him.  

Charles and Erik face Selene one last time.

Chapter 22: Endgame

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

“What is this…?” Erik asked, hesitant to know if he’d get a response by the way Charles had acted beforehand even when asked a question.

But Charles - although he didn’t look at him, although he kept arranging the flowers neatly, moving the rocks to press together more tightly and toying with the branches for them to make an X - answered him, very straightforwardly, “a funeral.” 

Erik and Charles set up camp somewhere new... and have a funeral.

Chapter 17: X Marks The Spot

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

“Are you being tortured?” Emma eventually asked, exasperated.

Erik let his smile drop, his face thanking him for it, “the question I’ve been asking myself since the beginning of this.”

Erik preps for the interviews and snarks at Emma and Logan. Janet is a talented saint and Charles' plan comes to light.

Chapter 7: Delight Me

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

Charles set aside the stones he used in an attempt to start a fire. He stayed quiet for a moment, perhaps considering how to phrase his thoughts. Erik just wanted an answer, not prose. “Do you play chess, Erik?” he finally asked, and Erik frowned, but nodded his head instinctively. He wondered if this had anything to do with the phoenix pawn he now carried with him at all times. “As do I,” Charles continued, “I have played since I was a small boy, and the thing I have learned about chess is that it is best to know your opponent. Raven, I have learned, prefers an aggressive style. My father, when he lived, preferred a defensive one. You, I imagine, will liberally use your queen or knight, but only agree to sacrifice your pawns.” 

Erik and Charles learn more about each other in training. They play chess, as well.

Chapter 5: The Pawn

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

He turned his terrified, completely human blue eyes towards Erik, continuing to speak, “you’re supposed to make it there by sundown - no sooner, no later - or we kill her.” 

They face the Careerists when the sun sets.

Chapter 16: Sunset

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

They did not possess the skill that frightened the Capitol and its principles most of all, though - the ability to control their minds and uncover their secrets.

The ability Charles possessed as well.

Erik and Charles have a late night talk. Logan has thoughts about strategies and ways to survive. They begin training.

Chapter 4: The Power of Being Underestimated

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

Erik froze. In the cave, moments before the package arrived, Erik had taken Charles’ hand in his, and kissed his knuckles softly, begging him to wake up. Suddenly, the reason why now was clear. That was the way a lover behaved when the one he loved wouldn’t wake up. It was not how a friend acted. That was the difference - Erik and Charles were now delivering on their love story… so Charles got to be healthy.

Charles wakes up. Erik realizes what it means to be the star crossed lovers of District 12.

Chapter 13: You Call That A Kiss?

[ironhusband]

The Bird's Opening

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see someone adamantly shaking their head. He was far away from him, dressed in camouflage like all of them, and his blue eyes were impossible to spot from the distance, but it was Charles, thankfully not hidden behind the cornucopia. He was looking at him resolutely, and firmly telling Erik, not telepathy or words; ‘no. Just run’

The games begin.

Chapter 9: Into The Woods