#people. then Charles gets shot and he blames ERIK and then he breaks up with Erik like ok I know he’s wounded and all but the fact the

[ironhusband]

Thinking about Erik snapping at Charles with “well maybe you should have fought harder for them” and the pain in his eyes when Charles told him they didn’t want the same things.

[moonbaby26]

Title: The Battle

Pairing: Peter Maximoff x Reader

Summary: Continuation from last chapter. Set during X-Men: Age of Apocalypse, you and the others fly to Cairo to confront Apocalypse and his soldiers in an attempt to rescue Xavier.

Warnings: Apocalypse being a leg breaking, hero strangling jerk. Characters fighting for their lives, but bookended with fluff from Peter x Reader pairing.

Chapters: Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Taglist: @drikawinchester , @n0obmaster69 , @alexloveskili , @what-a-silver-lining , @bluesprings18 , @weakmoony-stuff , @slytherinsi-mp, @wintwrsoldiwr, @tommy-braccoli, @amourtentiaa

Peter Maximoff x Reader Masterlist

———————————

You’d at least gotten to clean up somewhat. Earlier as Hank and the new woman you’d just met, Moira, had worked on readying the jet, you’d found some bit of helpful supplies. Clean rags to wipe off the blood, and bandages that’d you’d hurriedly applied to your shallow claw wounds.

All the remnants of your restraints were gone, and your old, torn clothes you’d just tossed in favor of the thin jumpsuit and lightly armored black flight suit over the top of it. You all wore these suits, commandeered with this experimental jet now rumbling beneath you as you shot off to Cairo together.

There was silence for a good while, after some initial nervous chatter and joking from the others. It would have been too easy to fill this quiet with any of the myriad of questions still rushing through your brain, but you really had just listened and little more when they’d filled you in earlier with the gist of what they’d learned.

All that really mattered was that the Professor was being held captive by a seemingly omnipotent mutant. One that had now declared war on all and recruited his own powerful soldiers. This was a rescue mission, with likely all your lives at stake.

You leaned your head back, wondering if anyone else would really even know or care what had happened to you if you never came back from this.

The escape from Stryker’s lab had been life threatening as well of course, but it was so different when it’d just been one thing after another. Events unfolding too quickly to really develop any sense of dread, it’d been all adrenaline and luck really.

But even in a jet like this, flying all the way to Egypt was more than just a skip and a jump. It was well enough time to dwell on your own inexperience and shortcomings, to wonder if this was the last time you’d ever do anything at all.

“Hey,” Peter’s voice was quiet, just to you, as you glanced over, having been mired only in your own thoughts until that moment.

He was sitting beside you, both of you strapped in these jump seats that ran along both sides of the jet. Vaguely you realized the others had started talking once more as well then. Maybe that was why he felt more comfortable speaking to you again now.

He hadn’t addressed you directly since you’d reunited with the others. Though you wouldn’t blame him if he was just as nervous as you were deep down. But from his self deprecating jokes in front of your friends earlier, about still living at home with his mother, he would at least seem better at hiding fear if he did have any.

“Hey,” You answered back reflexively, looking at him fully again.

“So uh....” He was chewing a piece of gum, as if some part of him still had to stay in motion in order to remain comfortable. “That car, that was pretty sweet. That yours or what?”

Honestly it took you a very long, awkward pause before you could piece together any idea of what he was referring to. But being that you’d only known him since literally just earlier today, there wasn’t anything else he could possibly mean. “The yellow convertible?” You questioned anyway, not really surprised by much of anything now.

“Yeah, I mean, I take the road if there is one. I saw you guys on the way to the house,” He answered, still offering a little explanation regardless. “Looked like you knew what you were doing though.” There was a more sheepish grin emerging. “I was going to stop and say hey I guess. But then I saw the, you know, fireball coming out the house and all, had to go see what that was about. Save everybody or whatever...” He trailed off after a bit, maybe realizing that you were just letting him ramble.

It reminded you of how you’d acted with him during the whole lab fiasco. He seemed the more confident one down there, while you got easily flustered. You really wondered if having your friends here now was making the difference. As if he was more unsure of himself when there was a potential audience to hear what you might say back to him.

It was interesting, getting to put more of those pieces together, or at least starting to be able to when it came to him. For putting on the display of an extrovert, and if you could finally admit it, even him being an outright flirt, you felt more and more sure that that was only skin deep really. That was just the outer layer he protected himself with.

“It was one of the Professor’s cars,” You smiled genuinely, probably the first one since they’d told you where you were going in this jet and why. “We were on our way back from the mall.”

That warmth from you seemed to ease him back into his normal tone, maybe a slight relief in him that you didn’t find it off putting that he’d already taken notice of you before you even knew he was anywhere around.

“Oh, mallrat, huh?” He quipped, “I can picture that.”

He was teasing, but you gave it right back. “There is no way you can tell me that you don’t end up in music stores wherever you live, like a lot.” You hadn’t forgotten his band t-shirt after all. You thought you’d seen him putting away headphones at some point too. “And that leather jacket and pants you had? Come on, that didn’t come from some bargain clothes rack.”

You might have had him for just a moment there. Just a flicker of surprise in his eyes to know you really had paid him that much attention, before he retorted, “Hey, what’s the point of a fast car if it has no style, right?”

“Says the guy who most people can’t even see until he slows down.” But you were purposeful to make clear in your tone that that wasn’t an insult at all, just continuing a little more bravely afterward, “Though their loss I guess.”

There was no mistake then, he really did pause. You could feel the slightest bit of heat in your face again, but you were not about to take that back. Not when you didn’t even know what was really awaiting you all at the end of this flight.

And you were still the next one to speak, that resolve remaining. “If we make it out of this, maybe you can come with me back over there to our mall. Help me pick out some new stuff.” You tried not to make it sound funny, but on some cosmic level it still was. “Seeing as how my room and everything I owned was incinerated and all.”

“Deal.” He said immediately. Only a little afterward seeming to realize that maybe he sounded a bit too eager. He cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. “I mean, I’m pretty good at Ms. Pac Man too. They have an arcade, right?”

“Yes.” You answered, trying not to look too amused, and going along with him to help him feel more comfortable. “I can’t say I’m actually any good, but they do have a Flash Gordon pinball machine I always play. And a couple of air hockey tables. That’s my go-to.” No question with his speed that he would likely annihilate you on both. But the idea of being in a much simpler, safer place like that with him some day was a pleasant one right now.

“Oh yeah. I can show you a thing or two.” He was clearly back in his element then, looking smug once more.

“I’m sure you will.” You could only wonder if the god complex mutant and his lackeys you were now off to go challenge would have any idea that in the back of your mind you’d now be dreaming of a simple date in an arcade as extra motivation to get back home in one piece.

———————————

It wasn’t long before things had started spiraling in quick succession again. You’d all arrived in Cairo to find it essentially destroyed, save for what this fake god had already erected in monument to himself. A huge pyramid in the style of the ancient Egyptians, one he’d taken Xavier hostage inside.

It hadn’t been clear though how much of the destruction was done by this mutant, and how much had actually been at Magneto’s hands as it was with more shock that you’d found him in the middle of this as well. Now serving this apocalyptic mutant.

You knew enough about Magneto to both fear and respect him. Even though his history with the Professor went back so many years, Erik Lehnsherr as he was actually named was always more on the side of peace through violence. While Xavier preached ideals of tolerance and education for regular humans to one day accept mutant kind, Magneto thought them incapable of such, and had no qualms on preemptive strikes against non mutants as well as eye for an eye type vengeance.

But even for Magneto this seemed surprising. He would really just give Xavier up this way? As you’d gotten closer, Jean had sensed that Apocalypse (what you were now calling the new enemy in your own mind) intended to take over the Professor’s body, possessing him permanently to gain access to his mind control powers and become basically omniscient. He’d be unstoppable with everyone as his puppets then. Free will would cease to exist.

“You guys help Nightcrawler get into the pyramid!” Raven called back to all of you as the jet was landing. “Get Charles and I’ll take care of Erik.”

You’d snapped back to attention at the orders, and you saw that Peter was suddenly at her side.

He looked so focused all at once, “I can get you in there,” He told her, referring to the debris field of broken buildings and all else now churning, stuck in a huge magnetic orb with Magneto at its center. When she didn’t look sure, he continued quickly. “I came here for him, let me help you.”

Raven nodded to Peter then in agreement, knowing there was no time for more back and forth. “The rest of you, get Charles on this plane and get him out of here!”

You too knew what was at stake, there was no reason to argue, even if there still must have been concern on your face. You didn’t understand Peter’s change and sudden fixation on Magneto.

But it was only Kurt that spoke up immediately, yelling back to Raven and Peter, “We’re not leaving without you!”

Peter looked back at that, “Don’t worry.” In fact, you realized he was looking directly to you for one moment. “We’ll catch up.”

———————————

While Peter had sped Raven out of sight to try and reason with Magneto, Moira had stayed with the jet and Hank had come with you, Scott, Jean, and Kurt.

But as you all ran along the rubble, trying to make your way to the pyramid, it hadn’t been but moments until you encountered Apocalypse’s other soldiers, mutants set on stopping you all from interfering by any means necessary.

A tall, blonde man with wings made out of metal, a ninja seeming woman with a pinkish purple energy she could wield from her hand like a blade even while also carrying a katana, and a girl nearer your own age with stark white hair and seemingly the most power out of the three as she’d flown right towards you throwing lightning bolts from her hands.

You’d had no choice but to split up. Which you were sure was what they’d wanted even as you’d chosen to try and take the white haired girl’s attention. You didn’t really want to find out what would happen if one of those bolts struck you directly, but you could guess you had the best chance of anyone to maybe absorb some of it in your energy form.

You’d immediately powered up, glowing white as she’d chased you around the sky, both of you darting and flying in some kind of bizarre dog fight.

Your heart had been racing though, no amount of training at the mansion could actually prepare you for dueling with someone who actually wished to harm you. Everything to this point had just been about learning to control your powers, maybe even firing an energy blast at a dummy or paper target or two. But you’d never tried to hurt anyone. Not on purpose.

“Why are you helping him!?” You yelled out to her, swerving again as she tried to get close enough to you to land a hit. You generated an orb of light energy from one hand, letting it destabilize before you threw it towards her. It collapsed into itself, exploding to make a shockwave through the air that pushed her back again.

“He’s going to make it so we never have to hide what we are again!” She growled back in frustration, steadying herself in the air before her eyes hazed over into solid white.

You doubted that could be good, and of course it wasn’t as she raised her arms, a tornado like blast of wind then trying to knock you from the sky. You were able to shield yourself somewhat with your force fields, but the barrage of debris and wreckage that came with the winds made it too difficult to keep track of her as she did nearly land a direct lightning strike then.

“You’re wrong!” You yelled back, even as you felt numb and disoriented briefly, like the electricity surge was messing with your own energy. “He’s just using all of you! He only wants slaves, nothing more! And you’re just going to hand us all to him!”

She didn’t answer back after that, but you knew it wasn’t as if you could change anyone’s mind for them. She’d have to live with her own choices, just as you’d have to live with yours.

After a good while of this tit for tat though, you were really trying to take her out of the sky at last, knowing you needed to find and help the others as this had already been going on for far too long. You started trying to get her in the chest with white energy beam after energy beam shooting from your hands. She was fast, but you were able to at least get her in one shoulder at last as she spun with the force, losing altitude quickly with the hit.

Even as she fell, you could see her already correcting course though, trying to take aim at you again as she glared upwards.

But you didn’t get to see what happened next. A three fingered hand grasped your left arm suddenly from thin air, and then you were collapsing onto the floor of the jet you’d come here in.

“Gotcha, time to go!” Kurt spoke quickly as you looked to him in surprise, that strange burning smell hanging in the air briefly that always accompanied his teleporting. It was as instant a feeling as moving with Peter, but thankfully without the subsequent vertigo as you stood quickly, powering down, even as you were already looking around for the speedster.

With relief you did see Jean cradling the Professor’s head as they sat on the floor, Xavier unconscious but still breathing. But you did not see Peter or Raven.

Moira and Hank were already firing up the jet engines and you grabbed hold to the wall as you felt the craft quickly rising. “What about Peter and Raven?” You called out over the noise of the turbines spooling up faster and faster.

“We’ll have to trust them to figure it out, we’ve got to get Charles out of here now!” Hank answered back, leaving no room for debate.

You felt an unease building in your stomach, but it was true that if Apocalypse got Xavier, that Peter, Raven, or anyone else would then no longer matter anyway. At least for now you could hope Peter would just take Raven and run somewhere far from here. Xavier and Jean could use their psychic abilities to find them later and you could reunite.

But a hard thud above you left you all looking upward as the jet rattled.

“What the hell was that!?” Moira called out.

As soon as you saw that pinkish energy blade emerging through the jet’s hull, you had already powered up again, glowing and ready to shield the others as best you could. Apocalypse’s soldiers were proving too difficult to shake.

Yet Jean had other plans, “Everyone, grab onto Kurt!” She yelled.

You didn’t know what altitude you were already at, but you knew it wasn’t a survivable one for the jet itself if it was ditched now. Yet a fight in this close of quarters with all your powers would likely end in the same result. So her choice wasn’t as irrational as it first seemed.

You reached one hand quickly back, firmly grabbing onto Kurt’s shoulder, even as you kept your other hand raised towards where the metal winged mutant and the blade wielding woman were now trying to force their way in through the breach they’d created in the hull.

“I’ve never done it with this many people!” Kurt warned as you all held to him.

“Get us out of here!” Jean commanded, her desperation bringing out a forcefulness you hadn’t yet seen from her.

But Kurt was still straining, the sound of his opening whatever portal he used clearly heard but not bringing you anywhere as he tried several times.

The man with the metal wings jumped down into the cockpit, now just feet away as you realized what you had to do.

“Go without me!” You screamed over the rush of wind now coming through the hull breach. You let go of Kurt, making direct eye contact with Jean.

You could get out on your own. At least you were going to try. It was the only way. Kurt wasn’t able to take you all.

You felt that Jean was listening, that she heard your thoughts and that as difficult as it was, she agreed just as quickly. It was the only way.

“Do it!” She urged Kurt even through the horrified look he gave you both.

“I’m taking it down.” You also heard her voice say in your head almost simultaneously. That briefest warning to ready yourself before she willed the controls to throw the plane into a nosedive and cause Apocalypse’s soldiers to lose their footing.

The last you saw of your other friends was still their shocked and frightened expressions as they disappeared from right in front of you. But this was your only chance as well, propelling yourself as fast you could, right through the fading cloud of gas they left behind and past the now tumbling winged mutant as all your focus went to that small square of sunlight that they’d cut into the hull.

It was your one window of survival. For just the briefest moment, you felt him try to grab hold of your leg as you flew past him. But you kicked him with the other leg as hard as you could manage, breaking free into the open air as the jet plummeted on without you.

Out the corner of your eye you saw the woman had remained on the outside of the jet, but jumped free from it as well. You lost sight of her as you both fell, focusing only on trying to slow your descent to a survivable speed. It was one thing to levitate yourself up from a neutral position, and wholly another to try and control your energy field around yourself enough to reverse the terminal velocity transferred to you from being within a crashing plane.

The ground still came too fast, too hard. You blacked out on impact, laying alone in the dirt as your light energy faded, receding back inside you.

————————————

An unknown time later, something jolted you awake. You could hear screaming as you opened your eyes. You were laying on your side. Everything hurt and you could taste blood in your mouth.

But you were already forcing yourself back up as you swallowed. Disoriented as you were, you still recognized that voice. It was Peter. He was hurt.

You were looking all around you, and it didn’t take long to see the source and reason for the screams.

Not far from you at all, Apocalypse stood in a clearing from all the rubble. Peter right beside him, half crumpled to the ground. One of Peter’s feet was encased in the earth, trapping him there like an animal in a snare. His other leg was clearly broken, twisted at a grossly unnatural angle.

You felt a foreign rage beginning to burn up inside you, but before you could even physically react you saw the woman with the katana again. Nowhere in your mind did you take any time to consider how she would look so clean and uninjured having just come from the same circumstances as you of barely escaping the crashing jet.

All you saw was her walking towards her master, sword at the ready to finish Peter.

“Stop, (Y/N)!”

Charles screaming inside your head was the only thing that kept you from revealing yourself at that moment.

“It’s Raven! I’m telling you, it’s Raven!” Even Charles was struggling to break through your flaring emotions, as he repeated himself desperately. “He’ll kill you, (Y/N)! Stay in place, I beg you!”

The Professor had never spoken to you in such a way before. You gripped onto the broken wall in front of you, still only just obscured from their view as you saw Apocalypse grab Peter by the hair, jerking the young man’s head back roughly to expose his throat to the woman.

“It’s Raven, please trust her!” Charles did not let go. You could feel him actually starting to control you even, something he had absolutely never done before, though your emotions were exploding like they also never had. He didn’t want you to make a life ending mistake.

“(Y/N), please.” He called again and you realized you were being held in place, unable to move out any further. You were forced to only watch as the woman raised her blade, Peter wincing in fear and pain beneath her as she swung it.

But it was only Apocalypse’s throat that ripped open. Yet even in your surprise, any sense of victory was still non existent. No blood poured from the wound, and it healed completely within moments as he only grabbed his supposed traitor by the neck, holding her up immediately.

Raven’s feet hung in the air while she choked, her blue skin and true appearance quickly returning as she could no longer control her disguise as Apocalypse strangled her.

And it was only then that you felt Xavier letting go of you, in his own shock as Apocalypse tried to bait him out.

“Charles! Come! Rescue your weaklings!” Apocalypse challenged aloud, still dangling the now helpless Raven while Peter stayed trapped at their feet. “Give your life for theirs!”

He was going to kill her right in front of you. You powered up, knowing there was no other choice. You had to-

“No. I’m still connected to him. Let me get in his head, (Y/N), then you can go to them.” The professor spoke quickly, yet with a touch of new resolve.

“Charles! Will you do nothing?” The false god continued to bellow.

This time you listened without being forced to. You did see Apocalypse pause as if Xavier was indeed making contact. It was still an agonizing wait, but when he finally let go of Raven, you allowed yourself some shred of hope. You’d never seen anyone be able to overpower the Professor mentally, once he was fully in.

But that hope was also short lived as just moments later Apocalypse raised his hand abruptly. At will he dissolved the outer wall of a nearby building. You could see Scott and Hank then exposed, themselves just as surprised and staring out. But you knew it could only mean that Apocalypse had used Xavier’s connection against him just that quickly to root out his hiding place.

This could be the end then. You resigned yourself that the only choice was to die fighting if that is what it had to be. But you weren’t as alone as you thought.

As Apocalypse had left Peter and Raven behind, now striding confidently to his prize, two massive steel beams suddenly shot into his path. They buried themselves into the ground, crossing into an X to block him.

You looked back into the sky, glad in this single moment that you had been right about at least one thing. Magneto wouldn’t give Xavier up in the end. Not without bloodshed anyway.

“You betray me?” Apocalypse asked, already turning to deal with Erik instead.

“No. I betrayed them.” Magneto unleashed hell then, every bit of metal he could pull shooting towards Apocalypse in an unending assault as the other raised a shield that incinerated each and every piece as it hit. But doing so clearly taxed him, allowing the perfect moment for the rest of you to join the battlefield.

You got to Peter almost simultaneously as Hank got to Raven. You and Beast were clearly in the same mindset of getting the injured out of the immediate firefight before you would join in.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner, the Professor froze me,” You spoke in quick apology to Peter, using a small energy blast to break up the earth that had been hardened around his trapped foot. Once cracked, you broke the rest of it free just with your fingers.

He was obviously surprised, grateful, and maybe even confused all at once as you gently lifted him with the help of your powers. You wrapped his arm around your shoulders, trying to mind his broken leg as you helped support him while gliding over to a safer spot some distance away.

“Stay here.” You spoke, sitting him down so his back was against a mostly still standing wall to shelter them.

Hank was sitting Raven down in the same manner beside him as Peter suddenly spoke up to you. “Wait.”

You were still crouched in front of him, you’d been about to stand back up when his hand went around the back of your neck and pulled you in closer.

Before you could register anything else, you felt his lips press against yours. It was a bit harsh, desperate even, and then it was over just as fast as you pulled back in surprise.

“In case we don’t ever get to make it to that arcade,” he responded to your shocked expression that was still evident even in your energy form like this.

You took a breath, now was not the time for verbalizing any of this. But you wanted to show you agreed with the sentiment. You leaned back in, kissing him yourself for one longer moment, one hand gently cupping the side of his face before you stood back up. He allowed the contact readily and you could only wonder what it felt like to him when you were enveloped in light like this.

Hank and Raven just gave you both the most confused of looks, but nothing was said as you and Beast had then rushed back off to throw yourselves into the fight.

——————————

(Continued in next chapter here)

[victoria-daydreams]

The Long Way Home

Chapter Twelve: A Plea to Come Home

AN: Guys, it’s only two chapters left in this story can you believe it? It’s feels like I was just posting the first chapter yesterday.

Trigger Warnings: none.

Word Count: 3.4k

Taglist: @iloveeverything-09​, @eiferundruhe​, @greatscott--wrongdecade​

Chapter Thirteen: An Unexpected Visitor

"So Erik was telling the truth," Raven started, sitting across from Charles at the kitchen table. "It's either me or Trask," She stated, staring at the four of us.

I stood behind Charles, my hands resting on the top of his wheelchair. Hank stood to the left me with his arms folded, leaning against a cabinet while Logan stood to the right of me just staring at Raven.

"If you kill Trask, they'll be ten more like him," Hank pointed out.

The blonde turned and looked at him, "Well then I'll kill them too and anyone who comes next," Raven threatened, a hardened expression on her face.

"Raven, do you hear yourself right now?" I asked in disbelief, staring at her.

"Let's just cut to the chase here," Logan spoke up, seemingly fed up with the polite conversation. "You wanna know how all this ends? Cause I've seen you in the future," e addressed Raven brusquely.

She shifted her veiled, suspicious gaze to him and held her ground, "Yeah, what am I like?" she challenged.

Logan met her scrutiny without blinking, "You're a cold,murderess bitch," he answered bluntly.

"Hey!" Hank protested weakly.

"Well don't hold back!" Raven exclaimed.

"By the time they finish you, and they finish you," Logan emphasized. "You've killed so much, you are knee-deep in human and mutant blood. You don't even know who you are," he finished.

The words hung heavy in the air and on us, like weights on drowning, helpless supplicants. Covering and suffocating us, in the undeniable horror of what could be. Raven stared at Logan for a moment, taking in his words with a hint of fear behind her eyes.

"Well, maybe there wouldn't be as much mutant blood if we made our move now!" she shot back at Logan.

"Gee, I wondered where I've heard that sentiment before," I commented sarcastically, moving to stand beside Charles.

"These are Erik's words, not yours," Charles chimed into the conversation. "Besides, you'd be giving Trask exactly what he wants: A reason for humanity to—to fear, to hate us," he said.

"You think they need a reason? Do you honestly think they'll ever be able to see me like this—" she briefly paused to shift into her natural form, to which he held his hand up and turned his head away for a second, "—and feel anything but fear? You can't even look at me!" she pointed out.

"That—That is not true," Charles denied and though his face was no longer turned, his eyes were looking somewhere above her head.

Raven reverted back to her human form, visibly easing Charles' comfort level, "I can hide, like you. But what about the ones who can't? I saw them in Vietnam. It's hard to hide your powers when you're getting shot at. And the ones that couldn't hide became lab rats for Trask," she continued.

"I will never let that happen to you," Charles vowed, his tone laced with sincerity. "I made you a promise long time ago that I would keep you safe, that I would protect you. If I had done my job, perhaps none of this would be happening to us. Perhaps you wouldn't have left home," he reasoned.

"I couldn't stay here forever, Charles," Raven sighed.

A slight smile tugged at Charles' lips when he pressed his fingertips to his right temple to telepathically speak to Raven.

"That's why!" she slammed her palms on the table clearly angry and rose to her feet.

"Raven, I'm sorry. I don't-" he began, but clearly there was some old habits Charles had never learned to stop and Raven was going to remind him of them.

"And it's not me you should be worrying about," she warned. "Erik is gonna start that war whether you like it or not,”

"Well, how do you know?" Hank wondered.

"He told me,"

Finished talking to us, the shapeshifter started limping to the bottom of the staircase. Raven's limping was pretty bad and it was clear that she was still injured from earlier today. She didn't get more than a few steps before Charles stopped her.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," Charles called, as I spotted the large dark stain on her pant leg.

"When was the last time you changed your bandage? On...on..your...leg?" Hank asked, his voice soft.

"Hank is going to see to your leg," Charles told her.

"I don't-" Hank interrupted.

"Yes you are," he told Hank. "You need some rest, my girl," This he directed to Raven.

"I'm not your girl," she softly snapped at him, but it wasn't said with much conviction.

"You will find your room just as you left it," he informed her before turning to his most loyal student. "Hank, go," he urged.

"I don't-"

"You know you want to, go on," Charles insisted.

"I don't blame Erik for trying to kill me," Raven interjected. "I would've done the same thing," she stated.

"How you're still able to defend a man who just attempted to murder you only a few hours ago is beyond me," I said, shaking my head.

The former professor absorbed his adoptive sister's radical opinion, unsure of how to reply.

"Go on, Hank,"

Knowing that Charles was ultimately going to get his way, Hank remained silent and caved and the pair walked up the flight of stairs together. Charles took my hand in his, effectively stealing my attention from the staircase and I looked down at him.

"Would you be so kind to give Raven a fresh towel and washcloth?" he asked softly.

"Of course Charles." I answered, nodding my head.

"Thank you darling," he said, planting a quick kiss to back of my hand before releasing it.

I made my way up the stairs and just as I was walk down the hallway I heard Charles' voice.

"She's home,"

"What are you trying to do?" Logan questioned him, not even attempting to conceal his emotions.

"I'm trying to save her," Charles answered, it as if it were obvious.

"Men who try to do that to women, in my experience, it doesn't end well,"

~~~x~~~

Now carrying a fresh, fluffy white towel and washcloth in my hands I stood outside Raven's bedroom door. I don't know why, but I've suddenly become so anxious about speaking to Raven alone. We hadn't seen each other in over a decade, but we didn't exactly end on friendly terms either. Raven wouldn't hold a grudge that long would she? Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath I knocked on Raven's door before peeking my head in to see her sitting on her sofa.

"It's just me," I informed, fully stepping into the room. "Charles just wanted me to bring you a towel and washcloth." I explained, as I walked over to her bed and placed them down.

Raven just nodded and I interlocked my fingers behind me, giving a nod of my own before slowly walking backwards out of her room.

"It's funny you know," Raven began, causing me to stop. "How the roles have reversed," she continued, turning her head to look at me. "Once upon a time it was me who was welcoming you into the mansion. And now here you are doing the same for me a decade later," Raven lightly chuckled, shaking her head.

"Who would've thought?" I asked, my lips quirking up into a smile. "Well, I'll leave to it you then," I stated, clasping my hands together and moved towards the door again.

"Wait!" Raven called, and I stopped once again this time I was at the door frame. "Stay awhile," she added.

I arched a brow, "Why do you want me to?" I asked, the question a lot more blunt than I meant it to be. "I mean, its just been a decade since we've last seen each other. And it wasn't on the best of terms," I clarified.

A small smile formed on Raven's lips, "I was young and immature," she admitted, nodding her head. "But I'm not her anymore," Raven added.

Giving a nod of my own, I made my way back into the room and sat in the sofa next to Raven, leaving a cushion space between us. An awkward silence permeated the space shared by us. As hard as we tried to ignore it, neither Raven nor I could deny that things between us had changed dramatically. We were both completely different people than we were in 1962. I hadn't really thought about Raven this much in awhile, sure she she had popped into my head quite a bit after the years following Cuba, but slowly she became an afterthought.

So many questions raced through my minds as we sit next to each other, praying for something, anything to interrupt the silence between them.

"How have you and Charles been getting on?" Raven questioned, breaking the crippling silence.

I breathed out a laugh and turned my body to face her, "To be honest you, it was only a few days ago that Charles and I saw each other again," I confessed, and Raven tilted her head in confusion. "Charles and I...well we separated in 1967." I explained, shaking my head. "It's been that way up until now,” I added.

Raven's eyes widened to the size of saucers, "What!" she exclaimed, grabbing my hands. "You two were perfect each other!" Raven claimed in disbelief.

"We were, we are." I chuckled, nodding my head and glancing down to the floor. "But the serum that helped Charles walk, it severely damaged our relationship along with other factors.” I sighed, lifting my eyes to see Raven's sad gaze.

She squeezed my hands gently, "I take it the school closing down was one of them?" Raven guessed.

I just smile at her sadly, "I think that was the biggest blow to Charles," I answered, sighing again. I put my hand on top of Raven's. "Enough about me and Charles, what about you?" I asked, looking at her expectantly.

"I was with Erik as you know already, up until JFK's assassination," Raven stated. "After that I went off on my own to fight for mutant freedom. I know we hold different views on what fighting for mutant rights looks like, but that's what I've been doing," she finished.

I looked away from her momentarily and out the window, "How was he? How was Erik?" I asked, looking back at her again.

"He...he missed you dearly." Raven answered. "Erik said he lost the woman who truly understood him," she continued. "And for awhile I envied you Claudia," Raven admitted. "I wanted to Erik to see me in that way," she added.

"But he did eventually, didn't he?" I questioned, remembering Erik's and Charles' conversation on the plane.

Raven nodded, "Yes, a relationship blossomed between us," she replied, a faint smile on her lips. “Did you ever think about Erik, after everything that happened?” Raven asked curiously.

“Of course!” I answered quickly. “More times than I should of honestly,” I said truthfully.

A small laugh escaped her and she shook her head, "God, I miss conversations like these," Raven breathed.

"Conversations like what?" I asked curiously.

"Trivial ones about men and relationships," she answered, laughing lightly. "And most importantly, I miss having them with you," Raven continued. My brows raised and my lips curved into a soft grin. "You were my first friend Claudia and I've missed you. Jealously shouldn't have ruined our friendship and for that I apologize," Raven finished.

I let out a chuckle and I righted myself. I immediately opened my arms and wove them around Raven's shoulders pulling her into a hug, which she reciprocated happily.

"Stick around Raven," I suggested. "I might let you even have the honor of calling me ‘Dia’ again." I joked, and Raven’s laughter vibrated through me.

~~~x~~~

Smiling to myself as I walked down the hallway I noticed a door was half-open, allowing me to spot Logan who was laying in bed with a cigar in his mouth. I scrunched up my nose in disgust at the smoky wisps that came out of his mouth. I knocked on the door catching Logan's attention.

"Yeah?"

I pushed the door open more slightly, "May I come in?" I asked sheepishly, to which Logan gave a nod. I scrunched nose my up even more now fully being hit with the cigar smoke. "You know those things give you cancer?" I commented, arching a brow and Logan rolled his eyes.

I took a seat on the edge of a chair that was placed underneath a desk and listening to the sounds of the TV before Logan spoke up.

"I have to know Claudia, how did Charles end up with a..." Logan trailed off, like he didn't want to finish his sentence.

"Say it Logan," I encouraged, my lips curving into a smirk. "It's alright," I added.

"How did Charles end up falling in love with someone who is such a bitch?" he asked bluntly.

I let out a laugh, throwing my head back in the process, "Well, you know what they say Logan," I began. "Opposites attract," I reminded, a grin on my face. "I do have to have thank you Logan." I stated, interlocking my fingers.

"What for?"

"If you hadn't found me, convinced me to help you. Charles and I probably wouldn't have gotten back together to try and work things out," I explained, slightly shrugging my shoulders. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I owe you...everything," I informed, looking at Logan.

He met my gaze, "You really wouldn't have come back if it weren't me?" Logan asked skeptically.

"No," I answered truthfully. "Charles showed no signs of changing his ways," I added, remembering my time in the mansion.

"Until now," Logan stated, and I nodded.

I lifted a brow, "So, in the future. You really never heard of me or even seen a picture of me,” I questioned, placing my arm on the desk and leaning my face on my knuckle.

Logan hesitated, "No," he told me. "It's like I said before, I never heard of you." he said.

My mind was reeling. How could have Charles never mentioned me. I thought I was his...his everything.

"Wow, so Charles just erased my entire existence in the future," I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "I take it that someone took my place. Who's he married into the future? What's she like?" I inquired curiously.

Logan shook his head, "Charles isn't married in the future," he corrected, and I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Being here now," Logan continued carefully. "I get the impression that Charles had found it difficult to talk about you, mostly because of how your relationship had fallen apart," he stated, staring at me. "I don't think Charles could never see himself being in a relationship if it wasn't you," he explained, his voice taking on a softer tone. "It's obvious the man adores you Claudia, so the guilt of him pushing you away which subsequently led to your death must've ate at him," Logan finished.

I sat in stunned silence, "Wow," I finally breathed out.

"Ah, there you are Claudia," Charles called from the door, and my head snapped to the door. "I wondered where you had gone," he continued.

I stood up from my seat, "Oh, Logan and I were just having a chat," I stated, moving towards Charles with a faint smile on my face. "It was very...illuminating," I added.

I looked at Logan, the man who had changed everything, and I made a promise to myself. I would not let that be my future. I refused to die and I refused to lose Charles again.

~~~x~~~

I watched the sunrise from Charles' bed with a cup of coffee in hand, the morning light spilling through his window. The clock that was on his wall ticked softly in a way that was soothing. I was usually the only one awake at this time of morning, but the feeling of lips placing butterfly kisses up my back made it clear I wasn't the only one awake. I smiled to myself and slowly let mug float over to the nightstand as I turned over to face Charles.

"Good morning," I greeted, a smile still on my face as he draped his arm around my waist.

"A good morning indeed," Charles said, locking eyes with me and I could see nothing but absolute bliss behind them.

Holding myself up with my elbow, I let the tips of my finger graze his jawline and Charles leaned into my touch. I moved my fingers higher and ran my hand through his long hair.

"You need a haircut," I commented, and Charles smiled. "And a shave." I added, breathing out a laugh.

Charles leaned in closer to me, placing his lips on my cheek. My nose. My lips. I placed my hand on the nape of his neck as Charles slowly broke our kiss. Softly, he ran his thumb across my cheekbone. For a minute, neither of us spoke a word.

"You're so beautiful," Charles whispered, and a smile pulled at my lips.

The sound of knocking on Charles' bedroom door broke us from our reverie. His grip around my waist loosened and I slipped out of the bed, making my way towards the door. I opened the door only to find Hank with a panicked expression on his face.

"Hank what's wrong?" I asked, my previous feelings of serenity quickly disappearing.

"I've made a mistake," Hank informed, and I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"What?" I asked in confusion, folding my arms.

It was only ten minutes later when we stood in front of a broken up Cerebro, that I understood what Hank had meant.

Hank held the broken helmet in his hands, sighing. "We can't track her now," he said, shaking his head.

"She's cut her ties..." Charles sighed as well, gazing at the damaged Cerebro in sorrow.

I ran a hand down my face, "So essentially we're screwed," I stated, looking down at the now useless helmet.

Hank’s face suddenly lit up, "Wait!" he called. "There's something I need to show you," he added.

We followed Hank, back up the lift and to one of the rooms in the mansion that he had turned into something else during the time I had been away. Multiple TVs were plugged into computers. Tapes were rolling as three voices clashed with each other and a web of wires covered the floor.

Hank sat down and flipped some switches. "This is the system I designed to record any news about Paris, over all three networks and PBS." Hank explained.

"All three? Wow," Logan said dryly.

Hank nodded, "Yeah, and PBS," He remarked, with a light chuckled before shifting his attention back to the matter. "Anyways, look what I found," he said, turning up the volume on one TV.

"Tomorrow in front of the White House," a news reporter began holding a black microphone. "The President will make his announcement. He'll be joined by Secretary of Defense, Laird, and has even sought the help of renowned scientist Bolivar Trask, his special adviser to combat this mutant issue. The White House has asked..." Hank stopped the recording and turned back to us.

"Raven doesn't realize that if she kills Trask at an event like that with the whole world watching..." Charles started.

"Then I came a long way for nothing," Logan finished.

I bit my lip, "What are we going to do?" I asked, running a hand over my hair.

"Wait, there's more bad news," Hank informed. "I saw the report, they found traces of her blood in Paris. For all we know, they already have her DNA, which is all they'd need-"

"To create the Sentinels of the future," Logan finished again and sighed in frustration.

"Now there's a theory in Quantum Physics," Hank began. "That time is immutable. It's like a river, you can throw a pebble into it, create a ripple, but the current always corrects itself. No matter what you do, the river just keeps flowing in the same direction," Hank finished, and I looked up at him.

"What are you trying to say?" Logan questioned, arms crossed.

"What I'm saying is." Hank sighed. "What if the war is inevitable? What if she's meant to kill Trask? What if this is just simply who she is?" I looked back down at the floor.

"It sure seems like it," I murmured.

Charles shook his head slowly, "Just because someone stumbles, loses their way, doesn't mean they're lost forever." He said, as if reciting someone else's words. I lifted my head smiled, Charles I had known was slowly coming back. He looked at Hank. "No, I don't believe that theory, Hank." Charles disagreed. "And I cannot believe that that is who she is," Charles stated, and Hank nodded in agreement.

"Now ready the plane, we're going to Washington,"

Chapter Fourteen: The Battle of Washington D.C.

[jadoue1999]

The X-Men and the member they lost - Chapter 6

Summary: With a witch threatening the town and Hayward's team trying to stop Wanda, the X-Men only have one goal: to save Peter. Problem is, he's a little hard to catch. *There are references to the fourth chapter of Wanda and the life she deserved, please make sure to have at least read this chapter before reading this one!*

Previous parts: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, 

Chapter 6: Free at last

They quickly left the circus and decided to follow the main road to find the town square. Call it superhero instinct, but all the fights usually took place in wide public space. They alternated between running and walking, had the town always been this big? It didn’t seem that huge on the broadcast. They had quickly drafted up a plan, it wasn’t much. It basically consisted of finding Peter and stopping Wanda. Erik wasn’t sure what they’d find, but he sure hoped his son was alright. The sudden awakening of the town couldn’t just be a change of mind from the redhead. If she really were as determined to keep her world as Charles claimed, there had to be an external force working against her.

They finally arrived at the center of town and noticed a few things. First, Wanda was looking around wildly and second, the citizens were all yelling at her to let them go. Third, the neighbor, Agnes was dressed in some supervillain outfit and was staring at the redhead with greed in her eyes. Oh, and her fingers were stained black for some reason. Erik assumed that the neighbor had probably been the one who freed them. That didn’t really matter, the real question was: where was Peter? He was nowhere to be seen, had Wanda done something to make sure he would stay? The woman suddenly let out a red light and screamed at everyone to leave as it reached the sky. To the team’s surprise, the dome started to come apart. They came to a stop and looked at each other with hesitation.

“Charles, what do we do?” Asked Raven.

“We try to find Peter,” answered the telepath. “I’m worried for his safety.”

As soon as he had said those words, the speedster appeared. He was holding Vision in his arms, who looked quite sick. “Sis, I found your husband,” he told her, “he was close, but I figured I’d cut some time. Oh, and there’s some military people coming.”

Charles and the other gasped in surprise as Peter popped in. Erik couldn’t keep his eyes away from him. His son was there, he was so close. Perhaps he wasn’t too late, perhaps he could break him out of the witch’s spell. An emotional bond that they had formed separately might just be enough to get him free of the mind control. Wait, he was still under her mind control. That didn’t make sense, they all had been released from Wanda’s lies. Why hadn’t he? He observed his son letting go of the woman’s husband. She was distracted, he had to act now. “Peter!” He called out to him. His voice made the young man turn around, or perhaps he was recognizing his own name? Hopefully, it was the latter. He felt relieved as he wrapped his arms around him, the mere fact he had been able to touch him without him speeding off was proof that the control was most definitely chipping away. He squeezed the speedster in his arms, “I’m sorry we didn’t come sooner, we were trapped as well. I know you wanted to tell me yourself, but Raven here spoiled the surprise. It doesn’t change that you’re my son, and I’m glad that you’re alright.” He felt Peter trying to remove himself from the hug, Erik loosened his grip and let his arms fall to the side. They were finally together; he had a shot at happiness once again. His son was there, it would be alright. Erik expected the young man to smile, to hug him back, anything. What he didn’t expect was the look of utter confusion reflected in his eyes. 

Peter frowned and eyed him up and down as if he was a crazy person. “Who are you?” His own son didn’t recognize him. He was still under the spell and quite deep into it as well. There wasn’t even a flicker of recognition. They were too late. Had Wanda truly taken him away the moment he had been in her grasp? But it couldn’t be the end of Peter. They had travelled so far to get him back; he couldn’t be lost. Erik felt his rage building up at the woman. How dare she? She had lost a lot, but she had no right taking away what wasn’t hers. He had done some terrible things in his life, especially during his quest to avenge his family, but he had never gone as far as brainwashing someone to replace what he had lost. 

He tried to grab at whatever metal she was wearing, but she seemed to have shielded herself from his power. No matter, he’d let her know just how much she had messed up. “What have you done to my son?!” Erik raged, his nerves were flaring, and he found slight satisfaction as the woman was taken aback by his outburst. “Release him immediately or I swear you’ll come to regret it!” He could feel her fear and hesitation, she was reconsidering her actions. He had seen that look many times before. Peter was confused, he was probably fighting the control inside his mind. He kept looking at Wanda, his eyes pleading for an explanation. Erik couldn’t do anything about it, so he walked back to the group. He felt so defeated, his future with his son depended entirely on Wanda. And she didn’t seem to want to let him go. Once again, he had lost even more family without having a say in it. “He- he saw right through me,” he croaked as he joined the group. They all looked at him with sympathy in their eyes. Raven gently took his hand and squeezed in an attempt to comfort him. It didn’t do much, but at least the intention was there. Charles was looking off to the distance, probably at Wanda. She was still taking down the barrier, he was probably curious about her powers. Perhaps he was seeing Jean in her place? They all missed home. The metal bender was sucked into a spiral of incoherent thoughts. Wanda was very likely Jean equivalent in this universe. She could manipulate reality itself; she could very well make them forget about their own world just as easy as it had been when they were mind controlled. Except, it was possible it could be permanent. Had she done it to Peter already? Was he beyond saving at this point? “Mom!” A voice echoed through the town square. Erik turned to it and briefly caught Wanda removing herself from his son, probably telling him fake promises. He was shocked as his eyes locked on the twins. They were falling apart. How could this be possible? Their very beings were breaking apart like pieces of a puzzle. They fell to the ground as their feet disappeared, along with their hands that were desperately reaching out to their mother. Vision was disappearing too, but Erik couldn’t look away from the boys. Everything they had seen about them, it was so very human, so real. They were only an illusion? He could see Peter trying to help them, but he himself seemed to be glitching. He was breaking out of the mind control, only to be put under again. Erik’s heart broke every time he saw the realization in the speedster’s face that his nephews were fading away. He hated the renewed horror that showed in his eyes every time the mind control took over him. Wanda panicked as she took in the state of her family; he couldn’t blame her. She bent her back and the dome began to close once again.

The family was now sharing a hug, they all seemed so relieved to be together. Perhaps they really would have to leave without Peter. Military cars and soldiers flocked all around the place brandishing heavy weapons. Wanda and Vision delegated them to Peter and the boys as Agnes threatened Wanda. Where did her hatred even came from? Had Wanda trapped her or was the neighbor pretending the whole time? He didn’t know and that wasn’t what mattered for now. The speedster was talking to the twins, probably explaining them the plan. The metal bender turned to the telepath.

“Charles, what can we do?“

He watched as Peter nodded to Billy who then created a blue orb from his hand. He twisted his arm, and all the soldiers froze in place. The two speedsters held hand and disappeared for a moment. When they came back in sight, the military personnel had either lost their weapon or been knocked out. Tommy was gleaming as Peter handed him a pair of sunglasses and hat, he had most definitely stolen from one of the soldiers. Erik smiled at the scene; the young boy looked as smug as Peter had been when he saved them from the Pentagon’s guards.

“It’s the necklace, “ suddenly interrupted the telepath still staring at the Maximoffs. “The necklace is what’s controlling him.“

“How can you be sure?“ asked Raven, uncertain of the professor’s sudden realization.

“For starter, he’s been wearing it consistently ever since he made his first appearance. Secondly, when Wanda came to see me, I tried to see something that could make her change her mind, one of her regrets and I saw this necklace. And lastly,“ he nodded towards a woman that suddenly gave a strong right hook on Hayward’s jaw. “this woman saw the necklace reprogramming his memory. She probably doesn’t understand why, but she knows it’s important.”

The team didn’t have time to respond to the professor’s claim before Kurt teleported himself close to Peter and the boys. The speedster sped a few feet back as the blue teen tried to grab the jewelry piece. Kurt materialized himself to where he had run to, only to realize that the spot was now empty. Erik watched attentively as they chased each other, Peter always being slightly ahead of the teleporter. The teen was calling to him, trying to explain why he was trying to get to him in the first place, but the man wasn’t listening. He could see the grin he had on his face; it was a game to him. A very hard game to follow for outsiders, but a game, nonetheless.

“I can’t deal with this,” complained Raven as she morphed into a copy of Nightcrawler. Charles and Erik shared a glance before looking back at the various mutants; they could hear Wanda and Agnes fighting in the sky but not much could be understood. The appearance of a second Kurt caught all the Maximoff boys off guard as much as it surprised the actual Kurt. Raven locked eyes with the teleporter and pressed him to act. Unfortunately, the moment it took for her to talk was enough for Peter to tell the younger speedster to take the shapeshifter out of the way as he whispered something to Billy. In a flash, Raven was a small dot far away from the town square and Peter had sped off, once again teasing the teleporter. Kurt always seemed to be less than a second late, just enough time for Peter to always see him coming. After a few minutes, the speedster stopped next to his nephews and stayed in place. That suspicious decision gave Kurt the opportunity to materialize next to him. He gasped in pain as his hand brushed over the necklace but didn’t have time to do anything else as Peter turned to the mini telepath.

“Billy, now!”

A light blue orb emerged from the young boy’s hand and collided with the teen, sending him crashing to the ground a few feet away. Peter high-fived each of his nephew. Erik and Raven, who was fairly close now, quickly rushed to the teleporter’s side, making sure he wasn’t gravely injured. How strong was Wanda’s control? His son hadn’t even hesitated. Had he not realized how Billy, with his untrained powers, could have done a lot more than simply throwing the teleporter away? He wasn’t able to tell him just how dangerous as the sky suddenly glowed red. Fearing for yet another mind control spell, Erik focused on who he was and braced for impact once again. Charles was the one who assured him that no such thing was happening. Wanda was a pulsing ball of energy, the woman she was fighting wasn’t doing anything, too stunned to react. The red cleared out and Wanda was now sporting completely different clothes.

“Guess she really is related to you, one way or another,” teased Raven, referring to the woman’s outfit that was very similar to his, in both color and  structure.

Both women and Vision floated down to the ground, Agnes was wearing a bitter look of defeat. They landed on a patch of grass. Wanda was telling the woman about how she had underestimated her, and she could keep the role she chose. That didn’t really make any sense, but Erik wasn’t really there to care about locals. She changed the woman back into civilian clothing and he tried to not notice the pain in her eyes as she was brought back under the mind control. Wanda shared a sad look with Vision before their children ran up to them, excitedly telling them about how they had chased Kurt. Peter was smiling to himself as he watched the family hugging. Wanda went over to him and linked her arms around him. Erik knew that kind of hugs, that was a goodbye hug. Would she?

“I truly hope you forgive me,” he heard Wanda say.

Yes, she would.

The necklace was gone, his son was back.

“Wanda?” he heard him say. He sounded confused; the redhead wasn’t looking at him. The speedster looked around and his gaze stopped when he spotted them. “Guys, you’re here!”

He was at their sides in an instant, hugging each one of them. Charles was chuckling, Raven was thankful he was back to himself and Kurt tried his best to hug back with how sore he felt. Peter quickly apologized for that. He stopped in front of him, a nervous hand rubbing the back of his neck. “So… I guess you know?”

Erik nodded and quickly took him in his arms as tears threatened to flow. They had done it; his son was free. They could go back home and start to build their relationship. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize any sooner, perhaps you could have avoided this mess.”

Peter shook his head and looked around the place, “it wasn’t as bad as you make out to be. Not after Wanda-“ he cut himself off.

“After Wanda what?” Pressed Erik. He already had an idea of what his son was about to say, but he wanted to hear it from him.

Peter considered his words before anxiously looking and them. “Well, first of all, I’m the one that followed her voice, I wasn’t dragged here or anything. I ended up in some freaky dungeon and Agnes over there got the necklace on me, I suppose it’s because she’s powerless, but now I remember.” He paused his rambling as he watched Wanda walk away with her family. He slowly turned back to the group who were waiting for him to continue. “So, um, Agnes’ spell wasn’t great, I was trapped in my mind and confused as hell. It was super uncomfortable when she was forcing me to question Wanda. Then she freed me.” That took Erik by surprise. He hadn’t thought the woman would have been brave enough to investigate the little imperfections of her world. “We talked a little about… stuff and I told her I had to leave. She broke down and I get it, she’s been through a lot. She, um,” He looked uncomfortably at Erik, who knew where this was going, but was still angry at the fact that it had happened. “She put the necklace back on me. But it wasn’t horrible! I felt like myself, I was just sure that I was her brother and that we grew up together. It wasn’t that bad.”

As much as he wanted to tell him that, yes, it was bad, he decided against it. She had let him go, and luckily without much of a fight. He only hoped that it would stay that way. The red wall that once kept them trapped was retreating, Wanda truly had accepted the consequences of her actions. For a moment, everything was still. There was a strong tingling sensation as reality came back to what it was before it became distorted by Wanda’s magic.

“Aww guys,” teased Peter, “I really liked those ridiculous costumes you were wearing.”

“Says the guy who dressed up in the cheap costume and spiky hair,” snorted Raven. The speedster pulled his tongue at her. “By the way, not sure if blonde suits you.”

He raised an eyebrow at her remark, “what do you mean?”

She motioned him over to a tinted car window and pointed at his reflection, his hair was still glitching between blonde and silver. “see for yourself.”

Peter’s reaction was immediate, he was running in a blur, probably yelling about wanting his old hair back. Erik couldn’t be sure; he was going too fast for anyone to understand what he was saying. Charles was trying to tell him that it would probably stabilize in a minute or two, but he doubted that he was listening. Sure enough, after a few minutes of running, his hair was back to silver and he was standing in front of them, rambling about the tragedy it would have been if his hair would have been stuck blonde forever. Erik smirked at him before looking down at himself and then the others, it was good to be wearing his usual clothing instead of the hideous garments they wore when they were in the circus. Plus, seeing his son back in the silver jacket with the absurd number of zippers after all the costumes he went through during his time on the show was reassuring. Peter was finally back to himself. The nightmare truly was over.

He spotted Wanda walking towards town square with a woman at her side. Erik had hoped she wouldn’t come back, surely no one would forgive her, even though she had freed the town. One good thing didn’t erase all the bad things, that was something he had experienced himself. Peter was jumping from one foot to another, anxiously looking at the redhead.

“Peter, please tell me you’re not seriously considering going back to her,” pleaded Erik. Her family wasn’t with her, they probably had disappeared with the dome. He didn’t want his son to go to her, she might whisk him away once more. Then, there would probably be no finding him again.

“Dad, please,” he begged. “She’s all alone, she needs her brother.”

Erik didn’t know how to respond because Peter had just called him dad for the first time. Luckily, Charles spoke up. “But you are not her brother.”

They could both see the pain and conflict going through the speedster’s mind. He seemed torn between the team and the redhead, who he definitely considered family in both cases. “Wanda… might not be my real sister, but for the time I was here, I truly felt complete. I know for a fact that she did too. She wasn’t able to come to term with Pietro’s death; I have to help her.”

The metal bender understood the sentiment, he truly did, but the whole situation started with Wanda being too grief stricken to control her magic. That’s how she could summon him here in the first place, he had to be careful if he approached her again. They were from two different realities; they were never supposed to meet. “Peter, you are not her Pietro.” He tried to reason him, but he simply shook his head.

“Maybe not, but she’s not my Wendy either. I can’t just leave her alone.” With that, the speedster disappeared and was now at her side. She jumped when he appeared, she seemed ready to leave this place, but Peter had interrupted her plans. Erik turned back to the group with a sigh.

“He needs this talk,” reassured Raven. “He’ll be alright after.” She turned to the professor, “right Charles?”

The telepath didn’t respond, his gaze was focussed on the pair that had now moved to a bench. Erik knew that look; something was going to happen. Whether good or bad, he had yet to decide. So, the group decided to simply look around them, keeping an eye on Peter but still giving him some privacy. After fifteen minutes, the speedster was coming back to them, thing is, he wasn’t alone.

“Hey guy!” yelled Peter, dragging the redhead behind him, “Wanda’s going to stay with us!”

***

Notes: We are done with Westview! I hope you guys liked this chapter and are ready for some bonding time between Peter and Erik!

[stattic-writes]

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[mrs-choi-aomine]

The File with a Photograph ( Wanda & Pietro )

HOLAAAA DE NUEVO!!!!!

A lot of people messaged me about Nadiya’s backstory and wanted more context. SO instead of writing her whole backstory out.I’ll write out imagine. I’ve always wanted to write it this way but it’s the best way to show how important her relationship is in the Avengers. In this the x-men and the avengers know about each other

To find out more about Nadiya and more OCs click here: OC masterlist

Summary: Clint wants Nadiya to tell the truth about her past after finding a mysterious photograph fall out of her paperwork. Nadiya breaks down in tears while telling her past in front of everyone and leaving a few people in shock.

Warnings: Swearing, angst

“Nadiya? Are you in here?”

Nadiya looked up from her scattered paperwork on her bed, glasses hanging off her nose.

“Yes I am still in here” Her thick Ukrainian accent calling out to the door. She looked back down at her work, scribbling a few notes on a mission planner.

The door opened wide and walked in was Clint, holding the file folder full of mission reports Nadiya had given him a couple minutes before. “Um, can we talk?” He closed the door and the sound of clicking shot Nadiya’s head up.

“About what? You were just in here to pick up work and leave without any conversation. You decided to be social all of the sudden?”  Clint chuckled lightly as he sat on the edge of the bed. Nadiya smirked and took her glasses off. “What is up hawkbrain?”

Clint looked straight into her eyes and took a deep breath, ignoring her last comment. “You need to tell everyone what is in that file.” Nadiya’s eyes narrowed. She looked back at her paperwork and started to work again.

“I already told you and everyone else, that file is private. I had it encrypted for a reason” The file Clint talked about was encrypted by Hydra, per request. Tony and the rest confronted her about it many times, more in the beginning of recruitment to the team. Nadiya always denied the file as any importance to the team and that it would be appreciated if people would stop acknowledging it. People complied.

Clint opened the folder and pulled out a photograph. It was old, clearly has been through all the elements and ripped, right at the corner... He laid in front of her paperwork, on top of what she was writing. Nadiya froze, dropping her pen. Her hand began to shake and her mouth gaped slightly.

“You have to tell them the truth. Tell me the truth. Tell everyone the truth. I kept my family hidden for years. I had an agreement too. I understand what you are feeling. Why you are scared. But you cannot hide this forever. They. Need. to know.” Nadiya looked over at Clint, tears d=brimming the edge of her eyes. Clint was right. She knew she couldn't keep this forever. She’s kept it a secret for so long, too long. She’s been with the Avenger’s for a year now, a year too long for them not knowing.  Nadiya closed her eyes, a nodded her head. At that, Clint wrapped his arm around her and hugged her. This was the first time he had hugged her, in a year. A hug he kept saved for this exact moment.

“Mr.Stark, Nadiya requests your presence in the living room for an important meeting” FRIDAY called over the intercom. Tony was on his sofa, scrolling through his holo-pad. “Why? She comes up with a way to repay for the microwave?” Friday chuckled. “No, sir. However, you could pay for a new microwave yourself?” Tony closed his holo-pad and got up from the sofa. “Well, I could also program you to speak only when the microwave door opens but i’m not going to do that either. Thank you FRIDAY, tell them I’m coming”

“Yes, Mr.Stark”

Nadiya fidgeted on the coffee table she sat on, jumping every time one of the team members walked into the living room. Clint stood next to the table, rubbing her shoulder, trying to calm her down. “Nadiya, are you okay? You look paler than usual.” Natasha said, crouching down in front of her, placing her hand Nadiya’s cheek.” Yes, she does look different” Maria chimed in from her big chair she claimed in every meeting. “Maybe she’s sick?” Pietro spoke up, speeding into the room with Nasira in his arms. Nadiya’s head automatically shot up at his voice and gulped. “Everyone, please just sit” Clint raised his voice a little. Natasha pulled back and sat on the couch with Wanda and Steve. Pietro and Sam stood behind the couch while Nasira went to sit with Vision, Rhodey, and Kharqa, which was something Rhodey wasn't comfortable with. “Where is Stark?” Fury said, standing in the usual corner. “Right here, one-eyed willy” Tony appeared out of the elevator, always on time to make some type of smart remark. “Just. Sit down” Clint exhaled.

Tony sat down in a single chair. “Alright, what was so important, Nuke baby?” He said while sitting. Clint was ready to say something until Nadiya’s hand raised. “It’s okay” she whispered, standing up as well.

Nadiya took a deep breath and looked around at everyone. “I have been hiding something from you all. Something that maybe could ruin this team, could ruin everything that I created and tried for this past year.” She exhaled a shaky breath. “ I am no longer going to hide what is in that encrypted file from you all. As Clint said, all of you deserve to know.”

“Clint, you knew?” Steve, with authority all of a sudden in his voice, asked. “No, not everything. I am going to learn just like you are” Clint said, rushed. “Continue Nadiya, you can do it.”

Looking over at Clint quickly then back at her hands, Nadiya started again. “ All of you know, half of my past. The kidnappings, the bombings, Hydra. The X-men. In Between the X-Men and now, there is a gigantic gap, missing. No not missing. Hidden……. Locked….. Kept away in my mind, in my heart, in that file. “ Nadiya choked on her first words. “While I was with Charles Xavier in the school, back almost 30 years ago…..I fell in love with someone. Someone I am- was...still in love today. We were both special. He was the only one I could trust, other than Charles. He treated me like a regular person, not with pity like everyone else. He told me when i was being stupid or ignorant and he told me when he was worried about me. He showed me the world in different perspectives. One in a way that has gotten me like am I now, and another of how he wanted the world to be. His name was Erik. Erik Lehnsherr….Magento”

“You fell in love with THAT old guy?” Sam said, his face written in shock and disgust. He was leaning on the edge of the couch. Pietro hit him in the head. “HEY! Boy, i will -”

“Shut. Up” Clint said darkly. Sam raised his hands in surrender.

Nadiya frowned upon Sam. “Yes, I did. He was much younger then and much more naive. Erik, he saw that this world, needed a leader. This world needed to be punished almost. He blamed the world for his life. For Auschwitz, for the Nazis. For hydra. He saw the world as hell. But, he saw me as Sun. Meine grüne Sonne ;My Green sun as he would call me. “ Nadiya smiled in between her sniffles. “ A while after being together, I got pregnant. Erik...he was there for me through it all. I had a daughter named Lorna. Lorna Dane.”

“Polaris, the daughter of Magneto….” Tony stated. “ Always knew she reminded me of somebody.” Naidya smiled faintly again before it disappeared. “She was a troublemaker. Her powers were strong when she was young. Had to get hide the metal all around the school.But, Erik, as much as he loved both of us, his mission was his priority. His mission to punish and rule over the world that did him so cruel. He almost killed the President of the United States if it wasn’t for Charles, Mystique and Me. After we stopped him, he saw what he did. He saw a monster. He saw himself as a monster. He saw what i saw myself years ago. Erik left, he disappeared. Leaving me and Lorna alone with the school. I was kidnapped soon after he left. I hadn't seen Charles, nor Lorna in twenty years. Twenty years. i….i ..i had no clue if they were safe. If Lorna still lived at the school. If Charles was still alive, shit if Lorna was alive! I was alone for twenty years, tested as an experiment, and as much torturing i was getting, i couldn’t stop worrying about Lorna…..or Erik. “

“After the X-Men rescued me, Charles told me that Lorna was adopted. By another family that supported Mutants in the time that they were in living in. That she could control her powers, and discovered after her 22nd birthday, that she stopped aging. I still hadn’t seen Lorna after my rescue. But, Erik. He had came back. We met in secret at a place we went frequently 24 years ago. He apologized. Begging for him to take him back. He constantly tried to rescue me but failed and was a worried mess about Me and Lorna. He left because he saw himself as a threat. A threat to us. To me and Lorna. I accepted everything and took him back. A year later, i had two more kids……..twins”

Nadiya by this point was in full on tears. Her makeup was starting to run, as she constantly swiped her eyes. She didn’t dare look up anyone. No one spoke, to in shock and interested to say anything. Ears keening to hear to rest of her past.

“I was...I was so scared for their safety, the thought of Hydra or the Government finding them, gave me chills down spine just thinking about it. I knew..we knew. To keep them safe, we would have to let them go. “ Nadiya sobbed. “ Erik contacted Charles and we flew Lorna over to meet her siblings for the first time and the last. She started crying, blaming the world, just like her father, that we couldn’t have the family she’s always wanted. The family we’ve always wanted. “

Before Lorna flew back to the states, we took a family photo at a shop, to experience something “normal”...like- like  “normal” even was in our dictionary. We flew to Sokovia and traveled to friends of Erik’s that he trusted with his life, and gave them the twins. Be- before we left, I - I ripped the photograph in half and left one half with them and kept the other.” Nadiya reached into her pocket with her damp hand and pulled out the folded photograph. “For years, For the past 28 years….I have been wondering what life have they been living, were they living normal lives that we always wanted. I never thought i would see them again”

Nadiya looked up, tears pouring out of her bright green eyes onto her pale cheeks. She looked straight at Wanda. Wanda's face showed confusion, shock, sadness. Tears ran down her face with her mouth agape, catching the tears on the corner of her lip. Nadiya handed the folder paper to Wanda, her hand shaking. Wanda hesitantly grabbed the photo and opened it. There was a woman holding two children in her arms, next to her, another woman standing next to her, a painsakened smile on her face as she leaned her head on the woman with the missing head’s shoulder.  

“When i was brought here the first day, and I was introduced to you both” Nadiya looked at Pietro, who was staring in shock at the photograph. “I wanted so hard to run to you both and hug you, to tell you both how much I love you and how much i was sorry. How much I hate the world to force us apart. To apologize to you both. But i knew i couldn’t. I couldn't I couldn't ruin your lives you’ve created for yourself. I went into my new room and dropped to the floor and cried. I cried for hours. I cried tears of joy, tears of anger, tears of guilt”

Wanda turned around to Pietro, who quickly got the message and zoomed to Wanda’s room. Nadiya stared at where Pietro stood before then back Wanda, who stared at the photograph again, Pietro zoomed back into the room, next to Wanda, as she stood up. In Pietro’s hand held the missing piece of the photo. There was Erik, wearing his signature frown. Next to him, was the head of Nadiya. She looked different then. Shorter hair and her hair was all black,she had a skinner face as well. But it was Nadiya, it sure as hell it was Nadiya. Wanda looked up at Nadiya, tears in her eyes.

“ I am so sorry I’ve been keeping this from you” Nadiya whispered. Wanda gripped the picture and tackled Nadiya with a hug. Pietro followed right behind. Nadiya started crying again, this time Wanda not for behind her. On the couch, Natasha was crying along with Nasira and Steve. “‘So, what you’ve been keeping in that file, was that you were Wanda and Pietro’s biological mother.” Tony stated, exhaling in belief of what just happened. A new recruit happens to be two other recruit’s mother. It was shocker for everyone. Vision sat and comprehend everything. However, he had a hunch that they were related in some type of way, through facial structure. But he was going to keep that to himself.

Nadiya pulled back from the two. She put one hand on Wanda’s cheek and the other on Pietro’s. She smiled wide, a scene that none of the Avengers see on a daily basis. “Look at how much you both turned out, My Star and my little soldier.. I wish, you could have been safe, away from the torture that Hydra creates but, you two have your father’s genes, always did crazy things for the better of the world.” Wanda laughed, knowing that they volunteered after wanting to help the world, help the world away from Stark.

“This is great!” Sam said, still from behind the couch. “So when Pietro does some stupid shit, we can tell on his ass to Nadiya so he can get grounded” Everyone started to laugh, all the anxiety and tears drying away.

“Also, that means Vision and Nasira can’t play any games now, They have a nuclear mom and Metal welding dad and a metal and all of above older sister to worry about.”

[statticscribbles]

Name

Summary: Charles/Erik Soulmate AU

The night Charles met Raven was the most eventful of his life up till that moment. Earlier in the day he’d discovered a signature on his side; messy and soft corners proclaiming someone starting with a M being his soulmate; he knew enough to not ask his parents; not that they would care in the first place. Second he had heard a noise at night; and he never did; it wasn’t that it was someone breaking in; because he would know those thoughts; but something else; his gift is muddled, the thoughts unclear; he’d never met someone like him but he knew he wasn’t the only one. He briefly thinks maybe it’s his soulmate, but banishes the thought when his not mother stands in the kitchen, he learns her name is Raven, and her soulmate name hasn’t shown up yet. She reads the rest of the name on him declaring it someone named Erik Lensherr. “No there wasn’t even an L.” “You must be horrible at reading their handwriting.” “I know it was Max Eisenhardt. I know my soulmate’s name.” “You need your eyes checked…” She swats his face and he laughs a little. “Maybe I’m just tired…”

The night Erik escaped was the most eventful of his life; he’d seen the name on his wrist earlier in the day; it curled up his arm; as if someone was exploring it from different angles and he’s never been more thankful that Charles is not a name he’d heard around the camp or in any of the tests he was subjected to.

He wasn’t sure where it had come from but the way the metal was speaking to him was different; it was if he was no longer tired or hungry or dying and the metal was almost begging to be worked by him. He wonders for a moment if this will be his true power but stuffs that thought down in favor of escaping undetected. He makes it onto a train and no one says anything as he curls into one of the empty seats. He wakes and begins to plot and train his gift; pulling coins from anywhere that no one notices. He learns two lessons that day. One is people don’t notice a lot and two he can simply morph scraps into coins to fool most people.

Charles doesn’t cover his mark as most people do; he doesn’t flash it in front of everyone; it’s not often anyone sees him without his shirt on so it stays hidden. Raven teases him about it and he wants to fire back but the fact her’s still hasn’t come in worries him. They get drunk after his thesis is done and she confesses it has; but she shapeshifts it hidden. “Who is it; come on Raven; I told you mine!!” He pouts; hoping he can blame his whininess on the drink. “Destiny.” “Wow intense.” He chuckles and she smacks his face like she did when he was little. “Who’s your soulmate today then?” She smiles back, Charles doesn’t need to check; it has remained at Erik since after he met Raven, Max seemed to have vanished and Charles wondered if he renamed himself would the mark on his soulmate’s body change.

Erik covers his mark as much as possible and anyone he catches trying to look at it gets his now perfected death glare. He doesn’t use it often wearing layers that will hide it as much as possible as he roams the world pulling gold from hidden safes and embedding coins into hearts he wasn’t aware were housed in the ribcages of his nightmares.

Charles can tell there’s something important about tonight; beyond the telepath that clouds his mind; beyond the work he’s doing with the FBI; he can see metal rising and he feels strange warmth in his head when he tries to follow the connection, it leads him to Erik who is glares and sharp angles and a vicious rage that Charles can’t help but want to devour.

Erik knows that tonight is important, he’ll finally have his revenge, he’ll finally be at peace and nothing can stop that. As it turns out for him Charles F. Xavier is the one thing that will get in his way and the only thing he’ll allow in. Even before he knows the name the man takes is the same one that curls around his wrist, he knows he would hesitate for his safety. He studies it that night, the way it curves; smooth and calm; protecting him even as it’s simply on his skin. He brushes off that thought Charles needs him in a way he cannot give; not until he’s finished.

Erik shows him first; it’s an accident as Charles phrases it but Erik is convinced that  Charles was listening to him and heard him cursing the sweater he’d been given in his mind; it’s too tight and his watch had gotten caught and Charles just opens the door and leaves both of them staring at his bare arm and Charles’ looping signature. Erik pushes him away before he can ask who’s on Charles’ body terrified that it will be his own name staring back at him.

When they’re training is when Charles finds out; that despite Erik’s incredible mind he has no barriers against Charles; he can’t even feel Charles entering his mind as Hank or the other kids do. Erik just smiles at him and assures him he can stop a bullet; that he knows how. Charles can see the images of him doing it; over and over stopping the bullets meant for himself and directing them back in an arc. He sees the bullet Erik couldn’t deflect and shuts himself off, refusing to delve into Erik’s mind. Erik notices when he can’t stop a bullet for the second time in his life; he’s not sure if Charles makes any noise when he’s shot but the reverberating agony in Erik’s head is almost enough to send him down; his hands are shaking as he calls out to the metal and nobody comments how all of the metal around Charles pushes itself back.

Charles waits surprised that the name on his side doesn’t change and relieved when a woman appears at the school, smiling at him and calling herself Destiny. “My sister-” “I know.” She tells him of her gift; and the partial future she has seen; he takes comfort in her words and the school as it grows. Mystique returns to the mansion; she folds herself into Destiny and Charles still waits. Erik appears when the class is out on a field trip; Charles knows because the chess pieces he’d been using to play against himself; the game paused for the field trip has an added move; one he knows he didn’t make and he returns the move leaving the room empty. He returns almost instantly when he can hear the audible clanking of the metal pieces. “Erik?” He calls out and there’s no response like he expected.

“Did your name change?” Charles looks worriedly at Erik’s furrowed brow as he speaks. “Why would it?” Charles reaches a hand out and is surprised when Erik leans forward and kneels in front of him to rest his head in his lap. “What happened Erik?” Charles’ hand drifts to run against his hair. “What happened?” “My name was Max; before…. Before I had your name on me…” he settles with that idea and Charles sighs, nudging his hand under Erik’s chin to force him to lift his head and look him in the eyes. “Max Eisenhardt; you have the same handwriting either way.” Erik seems to tense and Charles furrows his brow. “Is this not good?” “You already know what I’m thinking.” “May I look?” “Yes.” Charles is soft about entering his soulmates mind; he knows he’s been through more than any of the others and Charles can’t help but try to move away from the agony that Erik displays for him; every reason; every death and injury playing over and over amounting to the every growing list of why Charles should be free of Erik. There is no regret from Erik; no anguish at the action; only that he may have tainted Charles with them.

Charles swallows pushing slightly harder and he can suddenly feel nothing. He’s used to this, people shutting him out but he can tell he’s still seeing through Erik’s eyes; he wonders what could cause such blinding agony it would cut off his senses. It clicks when he sees the rush of silver; when he feels the bullet once more. Charles is aware that Erik is trying to move away; trying to leave and Charles isn’t sure if he wants to force him or not; and even less sure whether he wants him to stay. “Erik; did your name change?” He hates how his voice waivers and he swallows the joy he feels when Erik looks to still be in a hazy of agony.

“Why would I have anyone but you?” Charles can hear the metal vibrating and he’s about to look at it but instead he reaches back out for Erik who steps forward and lays his hand into Charles’. “We should finish our game old friend.” Charles says the words carefully unsure how Erik will respond. “It’s a start.” Erik hums a little offering a wry smile, and Charles can see him reshaping the chess pieces. Charles wonders if he destroyed them during their moment but he realises that Erik’s just fixing the imperfection in them; he has to laugh at that; he’d bought the set specifically for the imperfection on the hope Erik would see the metaphor but he’s just diving right in to fixing them and Charles wonders if he’s the metal or Erik in this moment.

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Man City were unlucky vs. Spurs but don’t blame VAR. Plus: Bayern getting a good deal with Coutinho?

Gab Marcotti is here to recap a busy, dramatic weekend in soccer. Welcome to Monday Musings.

Jump to: Man City vs. Spurs | Breaking down Coutinho to Bayern | Man United’s Alexis problem | Bale dazzles for Real | Arsenal got a gem in Ceballos | Balotelli returns home | Lampard and Chelsea so far | Dortmund look good | Joao Felix is a gem | PSG in chaos? | And finally…

Were Man City unlucky vs. Tottenham?

It may have been overshadowed by the late disallowed goal, but Manchester City’s performance against Tottenham was about as comprehensive a drubbing as you’ll see between two top six clubs. Realistically, the fact that City are already at last season’s levels — and that includes Kevin De Bruyne, who seems to have put injuries behind him and has returned to his 2017-18 self — will matter far more in the long run than the two points dropped, unlucky as they were to draw 2-2. (As you’ll recall, Man City were one of the unluckier teams last season despite winning a second straight league title.)

As for Tottenham, it’s hard not to be disappointed by what you saw. The midfield trio of Moussa Sissoko, Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele were a revolving door for much of the game, but that had plenty to do with the lack of help they got from the attacking midfielders and the fire-fighting they had to do on the flanks, where Danny Rose and Kyle Walker-Peters had rough days.

The absence of Dele Alli, Son Heung-Min and Jan Vertonghen (the latter started on the bench and stayed there) didn’t help, but it felt like a systemic failure. And that’s very unlike Pochettino.

OK, I got two paragraphs in without bringing up VAR, seem so let’s get this done.

Erik Lamela pulling down Rodri certainly looked like a penalty on television and, at the very least, it seems like something referee Michael Oliver might have wanted to review. There are two points to make here. The first is that we simply don’t know why it wasn’t subject to an on-field review. VAR may have alerted Oliver, who told them he didn’t want to review it because he had seen it and was happy with his on-pitch decision (unlikely). Or VAR may have decided not to alert him, particularly since it didn’t meet the Premier League’s stated goal of having a “high bar” for on-field reviews so they could be few and far between (quite possible).

There’s a quick and easy fix for that: better communication. I’ve likely mentioned this before but at a minimum, in real time, it makes sense to brief the media on why a decision was (or was not) taken.

Man City were frustrated by Saturday’s dramatic draw that could be one of the most lop-sided games in terms of performances all season.

The other point is that the second explanation — that it doesn’t meet “the high bar for VAR” standards — is, frankly, problematic. Whether you thought it was a penalty or not, something like that should be the referee’s call: set the bar any higher and you might as well not have on-field reviews.

– Ogden: Guardiola, Man City frustrated by VAR – Luck Index 2019: Man City unlucky – Football’s new laws: What to know about updated rules

As for the disallowed Gabriel Jesus goal, it’s not a VAR issue: it’s all about the changes to the Laws of the Game, much like Leander Dendoncker‘s disallowed goal last week for Wolves. As of June 1, the laws state that a handball, even if accidental, that leads to a goal invalidates the goal. The standard reaction was that — to paraphrase Charles Dickens — “the Law is an ass.” Undoubtedly it could be better written but the reason it was brought in was because of the belief in the principle that gaining an advantage from handling, even if accidental, was anathema to the game.

As I see it, this was a decision for a pre-VAR world. Without VAR, it makes sense to spare the referee the task of determining intent in what is often bound to be quick, pinball deflections. With VAR, common sense should rule. That said, let’s not forget that 99 percent of football matches are played without VAR, and IFAB’s job is to legislate for the game as a whole, not just big leagues who can afford VAR.

Maybe this is one situation where you can revisit the law, allowing those leagues with VAR to make their own decision on whether a handball that leads to a goal is accidental or not.

Ultimately, the Law itself makes sense in real time, but less so with the benefit of replay.

Breaking down Coutinho’s loan to Bayern Munich

Who got the better deal from Philippe Coutinho‘s loan move from Barcelona to Bayern Munich? Certainly Barca. Whether Bayern benefit from it too remains to be seen.

The Catalans get his wages of roughly $25 million off their books for a season and that already is an achievement. Coutinho was in the category of players who, due to the size of their contract, could only play for a very small number of clubs. They placed him at one of those who could afford him and, as a bonus, he’s in a shop window. Doing well at Bayern isn’t like doing well in China or the Gulf. People will notice. So even if Bayern don’t make the loan permanent, Barca will have options in terms of suitors next summer if he performs well in the Bundesliga this season.

From Bayern’s perspective, it’s a tougher call. The wage plus loan fee ($35m to cover both) is massive for a one-year rental. Sure, they got themselves an option to buy for $135m, but next summer Coutinho will be 28 and at that age, that’s still an arm and a leg for anyone not named Lionel or Cristiano.

It feels a little bit like the James Rodriguez deal all over again, minus Carlo Ancelotti, and there’s now a question over where to play him. Stick him in the No.10 hole — his best position — and you need to shift Thomas Mueller wide, which isn’t ideal). Play a 4-1-4-1 and you either have no defensive midfielder (because Thiago is sitting in front of the back four) or no Thiago (which isn’t good either). Play him wide and you lose one of your wingers.

Coutinho adds quality, sure, and he’s no doubt hungry and motivated. But then so was James, supposedly. The best-case scenario for Bayern is that Coutinho has a great season, fits Munich like a glove and they negotiate a deep discount on the $135m option. Right now, though, that feels like a long shot.

Would Man United be foolish to let Alexis leave?

Whether Alexis Sanchez‘s proposed loan move to Inter makes sense is pretty much down to the numbers.

If, as has been reported in Italy, Inter can get him for a minimal fee (less than $3m, plus an option to buy at around $15m) while also getting Manchester United to pay half his wages (which, lest we forget, are the highest in the Premier League, somewhere between $22m to $31m, depending who you believe) then it might make sense for the Milanese club as a short-term fix with a high upside. If they’re just indulging in wishful thinking, Inter may want to pump the brakes.

Less clear is how it makes sense from United’s perspective. This is one club where shaving a chunk off the wage bill really doesn’t make much difference. In addition, while Sanchez may not have covered himself in glory at Old Trafford over the past 18 months — he has scored three more league goals than the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward — he’s still a live body who plays up front (and looked really sharp in the Copa America). I already thought United were short-handed after the sale of Romelu Lukaku they’ll be even thinner with the Chile international gone, when Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood really do become the only options beyond Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

Beyond that, you rather feel both these clubs are guilty of a lack of clear thinking. It wasn’t a mystery that Sanchez wasn’t working out at Old Trafford, that Antonio Conte wanted a striker and the two clubs have been talking all summer over Romelu Lukaku, so why was it left until now to attempt the deal? Shifting Sanchez sooner would also have benefited United, giving them time to sign another forward.

(And no, don’t drink the Greenwood-and-Chong-all-along Kool-Aid. If that really was the plan, they wouldn’t have pursued Mario Mandzukic.)

Zidane trusts Bale in Real’s opener… and it pays off

The curious thing about Real Madrid’s 3-1 opening day win at Celta Vigo was how familiar it was. Seven of Zinedine Zidane‘s starters were around for the 2015-16 Champions League final, his first. (It would have been eight, but for the fact that Dani Carvajal was injured.) That number included Gareth Bale and it didn’t need to: even with Eden Hazard absent due to injury, Zidane had plenty of choices, from Isco to James Rodriguez and from Luka Jovic to Lucas Vazquez).

What does it mean? Simply that both are professionals. Zidane would probably still prefer Bale (and his wages) were elsewhere, but as long as Bale is around, why not use him? And from Bale’s perspective, he does what he’s paid to do. I’m not sure there’s much more to read into it than that and, as Zidane himself said, with the market closed in England and closing elsewhere, it looks as if he’s sticking around.

As for events on the pitch, Real Madrid were efficient and let their experience guide them through, even after Luka Modric‘s rather harsh red early in the second half. Some awful finishing from Celta didn’t hurt either. This likely won’t be the Madrid side we’ll see later on in the season but for now, they reminded us that they’re a unit who know how to win and still have far more quality than all but a handful of sides. That will do.

Ceballos already stands out for Arsenal

It will be curious to see what Unai Emery’s long-term plan for Arsenal might be, once Nicolas Pepe finds his feet and the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil are consistently available. For now, he’s getting results with Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson, which is further evidence that sometimes pay stub and pedigree matter less than system, enthusiasm and application.

Still, the star of the win over Burnley was Dani Ceballos, whose passing, awareness and personality more than moved the needle. Apart from four or five positions, it’s hard to nail down what Arsenal’s Best XI is when everyone is available. But what’s obvious already is that Ceballos needs to be a cast-iron starter, whatever the formation, whatever the mix.

“SuperMario” returns to Italy

Mario Balotelli is going back to Serie A after three productive seasons in Ligue 1. How will he fare?

No, Mario Balotelli won’t be joining “Gabigol” at Flamengo. Instead he’s going home, to his native Brescia, newly promoted to Serie A. Most have given up any attempt at psychoanalysis when it comes to “Super Mario” but on paper, you’d assume that being back in his home town will help him.

Balotelli says he hopes to convince Roberto Mancini to give him a place in the Euro 2020 squad and that wouldn’t have happened if he’d gone to Brazil. He turned 29 this month (boy, that snuck up on you, didn’t it?) and if he were a cat, he’d only have a couple of lives left. Three years in France yielded 51 goals in 88 appearances, which isn’t a bad return, but the bar, for him, is as high as it has ever been. And you can see why.

Lampard’s Chelsea still taking shape

Last season, the pundits and talking heads attacked Maurizio Sarri every which way for playing Jorginho in front of the back four and N’Golo Kante a little further forward, and to the side, of a midfield three. Surely that would all change with a sensible manager like Frank Lampard in charge?

Nope.

While Lampard has changed a few things, like making Jorginho less of a basketball style “point guard” through whom everything must run, he’s still the deep-lying playmaker. And Kante is still the pressing machine, free to wreak havoc with runs into the box when the opportunity presents itself.

Credit to Lampard for not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Now, he just needs to get his team to play for a full 90 minutes. As good as Chelsea were in the first half-hour, they feel away badly after the break against Leicester and could easily have lost the match before settling for a 1-1 draw.

Dortmund show why they’re a title contender

Expectations are high in Dortmund after a big spending (by Bundesliga standards) summer that saw them add four legitimate starters in Mats Hummels, Nico Schulz, Thorgan Hazard and Julian Brandt. All but Brandt started (he came on at the end) in the 5-1 drubbing of Augsburg and, after they gave up the opener, it was about as one-sided as the score suggests.

Borussia Dortmund are deep and they have options in almost every area of the pitch. For the first time in a while, the Bundesliga is far from a foregone conclusion.

Joao Felix is a gem

Atletico Madrid’s season began with three points and a 1-0 win over Getafe, but Joao Felix overshadowed matters with this absurd run, reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo in his early 20s.

Conventional wisdom suggested the $135m fee paid for a guy with less than 40 professional games under his belt was excessive. But if he keeps this up, he’ll prove that conventional wisdom — to paraphrase Dickens a second time — is also an ass.

PSG’s season is off to a horrid start

As if the mood at Paris Saint-Germain wasn’t grim enough, they fell away to Rennes on Sunday night and the Neymar saga is no closer to a conclusion. And despite some late chances, they fully deserved their 3-1 defeat against a side that started 16-year-old Eduardo Camavinga (you may want to remember the name) in the middle of the park.

Neymar and Presnel Kimpembe aside, this wasn’t too far off full-strength PSG either. So while Thomas Tuchel has a point when he says that if Neymar leaves they need more signings, it’s also not much of an excuse for what happened Sunday night.

And finally…

Bas Dost is strongly rumoured to be on his way from Sporting Lisbon to Eintracht Frankfurt. Are you excited? I know I am.

This concludes the latest edition of #BasDostWatch.

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[myriadimagines]

Preference: Marvel (X-Men)

How You Meet

Characters: Alex Summers, Charles Xavier, Erik Lensherr, Hank McCoy, Logan Howlett, Peter Maximoff, Raven Darkholme.

Warnings: swearing, mugging, alcohol consumption and stealing

Request: “Preferences : X-men; how you meet (every characters you can?)” - anonymous

A/N: Sorry I didn’t do a lot of characters, but as of now those are the characters I feel most comfortable writing for from X-Men (seeing as I haven’t watched all the movies !!)

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Alex Summers

You awkwardly sat on the floor, crossing your legs. The room was wide but mostly empty, with a few mannequins lined up on the other end of the room. Pressing your lips together, you wondered if you should wait or try to find Charles. He said he wanted to do training with you, but you had already waited ten minutes for him to show up.

Sighing, you got to your feet and headed for the door. The door suddenly opened, and you paused.

“There you are!” you exclaimed, then flushed when a man stepped out that wasn’t Charles. Instead, it was a young man with an intimidating expression. You backed away, uncertain of what to do. “I thought you were Charles.”

The man looked you up and down, giving you a small smile. 

“He’s probably too busy reading someone’s mind.” he joked, and you relaxed a little. “I’m Alex.”

“y/n.” you smiled, no longer feeling threatened. You examined him, trying to see if there was any hint at to what his abilities may be. 

“I can control energy.” he spoke, and you blinked at him, confused. “Yeah, it’s kind of hard to explain.”

“Are you sure you can’t read minds too?” you teased, and he laughed.

“Well, you were kinda staring at me, so I figured you’d probably wanna know what I do.” he explained, and you shrugged. “What do you do?”

“I’ll show you if you show me your powers.” you bargained, and he hesitated. 

“It’s kind of dangerous...” he started, and you rolled your eyes and stepped towards him.

“Come on, show me what you got.” you challenged, and he stepped towards you. 

“Alright, y/n. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” 

Charles Xavier

You absentmindedly ran your hands through the grass, listening to the sound of the stream. You were laying on your back, soaking up the sunshine and slowly dozing off. It was all peaceful, just the way you liked it.

You were about to close your eyes when you heard footsteps approaching. Springing to your feet, you were about to sprint in the other direction when a voice stopped you.

“What are you doing here?”

“...nothing?” you responded, slowly turning around. A young man stood in front of you, and he raised an eyebrow at you as he put his hands into his pockets.

Shit, who is this guy? you thought slowly took a step back.

“My name is Charles Xavier.” he stepped towards you, and you froze. 

Does he own this place? God, I’m in so much trouble-

“I own the mansion which is back there.” Charles gestured behind him, and your brows furrowed. 

Can he read my mind or something? How is he answering all the questions I have-

Yes. A voice suddenly entered your thoughts. I can read your mind. 

“What the fuck?” you exclaimed, jumping back. “Who was that?”

“That was my voice.” Charles explained, an amused smile dancing on his lips. 

“H-how?” you stammered, growing increasingly scared of the man in front of you. “Don’t hurt me, please.”

“I’m sorry, that was not my intention.” Charles smile faded, and he tried to reach out to you. “What is your name?”

“y/n...” you responded uncertainly, and Charles nodded.

“y/n, I think you may have an ability too.” he said, squinting his eyes as he looked at you. You gaped at him, building up the courage to step towards him.

“Can I read minds too?” you asked, and he chuckled.

“Well, maybe not that ability.” he reached his hand out to you, and after a pause, you took it. “Let me take you back to my mansion. You’ll meet lots of others with abilities, and together maybe we’ll find out what’s yours.” 

Erik Lensherr

Erik pulled his hat further over his eyes and strolled down the street. It was close to midnight, and the roads were practically empty. He heard a few murmurs of conversations here and there, and sometimes heard yelling from apartment buildings above him, but otherwise it was relatively quiet. 

He was just about to turn into the small hotel he was staying at when he heard a clatter in the alleyway. He heard a muffled scream and someone shushing in response. Curious, Erik slowly walked closer to the alleyway. 

“Get off of me!” he heard someone yell before there was another clatter. Erik rounded the corner to see a man with his hand over your mouth, and another man going through your bag. Smirking, Erik stepped closer.

“You should step away from them, sir.” Erik spoke up, and the two men looked up. Scoffing, they exchanged glances after looking at Erik up and down.

“Or what?” one challenged, and Erik shrugged. 

“Or this.” Erik responded, raising his hand. Your eyes widened as the metal bin next to you levitated above the ground and suddenly crashed over the man’s head, and smashed into the second man. You stumbled backwards, gasping. You looked up at Erik, raising your hands above your head.

“Don’t hurt me, sir.” you pleaded, terrified about what you had just witnessed, The bin landed next to you and Erik walked towards you, picking up your bag. He zipped it up and handed to you, which you took with shaking hands. 

“Relax.” he put his hand on your arm, and you flinched. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, sir.” you nodded quickly. 

“No need to call me sir.” Erik smirked, amused. “I’m Erik.”

“Th-thank you, Erik.” you stammered, surprised at how kind he seemed to be despite hitting to men with a trash can. “I’m y/n.” 

“Come on now,” Erik offered his arm, which you tentatively looped your arm through. “I’ll walk you home. Don’t want you getting mugged again.” 

Hank McCoy

Hank sighed and rested his elbows on the desk, observing his test tubes. He took off his glasses to wipe them before putting them back on. Bored, he spun around in his chair, before finally resting his head on the desk.

“Are you bored, by any chance?” a voice teased, and Hank’s head shot up. He looked over his shoulder to see you walking towards him with a tray of microscope slides. Smiling playfully, you put the tray on the table and sat in the stool next to him. Embarrassed, Hank shrugged. He had never seen you before, but all he could think about was how cute you looked. 

“I’m supposed to stay behind and analyse some samples, but they’re taking forever.” he explained, and you began to blush.

“Oh god, I’m sorry.” you put your hand on the tray and pushed it towards him. “H-here are the samples.”

“Oh!” Hank sat up straighter. “I-I didn’t mean to blame you. I just-”

“It’s okay.” you reassured him. “Do you need any help?”

“I think I can manage.” Hank responded, and internally reprimanded himself. He wanted to spend time with you, yet here he was, saying he didn’t need help. His brain scrambled to think of something to say. “What’s your name, by the way?”

“y/n.” you chirped, and Hank smiled. 

“I’m Hank.” he offered his hand, and you giggled as you shook it. You spun around in your chair, biting your lip.

“You don’t mind if I stay here-”

“Not at all!” Hank responded, and cringed. “Did I just respond too quickly?”

“Just a bit.” you teased, nudging him, and you both smiled shyly at each other.

Logan Howlett

You avoided eye contact as the man approached you, swaying slightly from being intoxicated. He threw his arms around your shoulders and you roughly shoved him away, staring straight ahead. The man frowned, staring hard at you.

“Come on,” he jeered, causing a few people around you to look up. “Why so cold?”

“Not interested.” you responded curtly, before gulping down your drink and moving away from the bar. You took a step away before the man suddenly grabbed your wrist. You finally turned to face him, glaring. He gave you a smirk.

“Give me a chance.” he insisted, and you growled and snatched your wrist away. His smirk faded, and he advanced towards you. He raised his hand as if to strike you, but you quickly punched him in the jaw instead. He staggered backwards, clutching his face in shock, before angrily storming towards you. You dodged him and shoved him into a table, turning it over. The man stumbled to his feet again before some others held him back and dragged him out of the bar. Dusting your shirt off, you turned around and almost smacked into another man who was watching you, nodding approvingly.

“I was going to offer some help,” the man spoke, gesturing to the overturned table. “But it looks like you have things under control.”

“I can take care of myself.” you snapped, then paused when you realized it was a little ruder than intended. “I appreciate the offer to help though.”

“Logan.” the man offered his hand, and you shook it warmly. “Can I buy you a drink? I’d like to know where you learned to fight like that. You move pretty quickly, you’ve got some skill.”

“Thanks, Logan.” you liked the way his name sounded on your tongue. “y/n.”

Peter Maximoff

Sitting in the cafe, you gazed out the window and absentmindedly tapped your pen on your notebook, which was laying open on the desk. You had only written a few lines, and groaned in frustration when you couldn’t think of more to add. You had a history essay due in a week, and you hadn’t even gotten your first draft written. You could barely come up with a thesis, let alone a plan. 

Opening your laptop, you sipped at the coffee you had bought and tried to pull up your history notes. You skimmed through them, uninterested, before leaning back and looking around the cafe. It was pretty quiet; most people had their heads down working or chatting quietly to someone else. You met eyes with a boy sitting at the other end of the cafe with a cap pulled down over his face. He raised an eyebrow at you before looking away, and you shook your head. 

“Screw it.” you muttered, slamming your laptop shut and gathering your notebook and pens. You couldn’t focus here. You suddenly felt a whoosh of air go past you, whipping your hair around your face. Blinking, you looked up to see the boy with the cap walk out of the cafe. Looking down at the desk, you realized your pencil case was gone. You went through your bag and checked under your table, before your head shot up to see where the boy had just went. For some reason, you felt like he was the one who took your pencil case.

“Hey. Hey!” you yelled out, grabbing your bag and running out of the cafe. You stepped out just in time to see him lazily crossing the road, tossing your pencil case in the air and catching it. “Hey, you! Give my pencil case back!”

The boy froze, slowly turning around with his eyes wide.

“H-how did you know it was me?” he stammered, and you faltered. 

“Honestly, I don’t really know.” you responded, and cringed. “Shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

The boy chuckled, and you balled your hands into fists and tried to stay angry, but you could feel a smile forming on your face.

“Whatever! I was right, wasn’t I?” you tried to regain your stance as you approached him. 

“Fine.” he rolled his eyes, tossing your pencil case back at you. 

“Thank you.” you gave him a smug smile, putting your pencil case back into your bag. You felt another breeze, and looked up to see him smirking as he dangled your phone in your face. Gaping, you patted down the pockets of your jeans. “How-”

“Peter.” the boy said, handing your phone back to you, which you snatched.

“y/n.” you grumbled, folding your arms. “How did you steal all my stuff?”

“Well, fun fact...” 

Raven Darkholme

“Shit.” you muttered to yourself as you checked your watch. Scrambling to grab your stuff, you gulped down your watery coffee and slammed your laptop shut. Shoving it hastily into your backpack, you grabbed your suitcase and sprinted out of the restaurant. 

“Why am I always late?” you groaned to yourself as you started jogging, awkwardly trying to dodge through the crowd. The airport seemed even busier than usual, and you quickly apologised to a couple you accidentally ran into. You flight was supposed to board in less than a minute, and your gate was halfway across the airport.

You were too busy fumbling in your pocket to find your passport and your ticket to notice a blonde woman slowly wandering in your direction. She was too preoccupied with something on her mind to notice you rushing towards her. Before either of you could react, you collided into each other, stumbling backwards.

“Oh god, I am so sorry.” you stammered, immediately rushing up to her. She looked up at you, and you faltered for a moment. She was stunning. “I, uh-”

“What?” the woman asked, somewhat defensively. She pulled her coat tighter around her body, her eyes piercing into yours from under her wide brimmed hat.

“I just... you’re beautiful.” you finally managed to get out, and her hostile look immediately faded away. She looked at you bashfully, giving you a small smile.

“Oh. Th-thank you.” she stammered. “You’re not too bad yourself, I guess.”

“Thanks?” you responded, laughing. You looked down at your ticket, but decided your flight wasn’t as urgent anymore. “I’m y/n.”

“Raven.” she smiled, and you smiled back. 

[purplepenthoughts]

Mama’s Broken Heart:

Song Fic: Mama’s Broke Heart by: Miranda Lambert

Warning: Some swearing, alcohol

I cut my bangs with some rusty kitchen scissors I screamed his name til the neighbors called the cops I numbed the pain at the expense of my liver Don't know what I did next all I know, I couldn't stop

It was supposed to be a simple presentation to a bunch of high ranking officials. Charles would explain their school and Raven would wow them. (Name) was there for moral support and to persuade people. The higher ranking officers would see he applaud them and soon follow suit. She was their gateway into higher society. It worked a little too well this time. A whore of higher society had got with Charles. It was appalling moment when Raven and (Name) walked into the shared hotel room, though it looked more like a small house. (Name) had run to the bathroom and locked herself in, tears streaming down her face.

(Name) watched her hair fall to the floor as she took a pair of rusty kitchen scissors to them. It was uneven due to her shaking so much. Tears were making her vision blurry as well. She had locked herself in the bathroom with a bottle of vodka and a pair of scissors. She knew the pain of her break up at the expense of her liver. She chopped her hair, butchering what was left of it. Her once long silky locks were ragged and uneven. She swigged another shot of vodka down as she glared at herself in the mirror. Setting the scissors down she slid against the door of the bathroom, bottle in hand. She sat there and listened to the whore in the adjoined room running from the manner and Raven ripping Charles apart with her words. (Name) took the engagement ring from her hand and twirled it around in her hand. It glistened in the lights as she took another swig of vodka. Then came the knocking.

“Go away,” she croaked out.

“Not until you open the door,” came Charles’s voice from the other side.

“Piss off Charles,” She screamed at the door. She locked the door and scooched over to the tub. She wanted to be the farthest away she could be, even if she was cornered.

He tried the doorknob and (Name) watched as it jiggled. She took another drink.

“Open the door (Name),” he called out with anger laced in his words.

“FUCK OFF CHARLES!” she screamed at the door.

The door knob stopped moving. She watched the door move slightly, for Charles had slid down it on the other side.

    “(Name) please, I beg you, open the door,” He said his back to door.

    “Leave me alone Charles,” (Name) said taking all of the towels from cabinet. She began to make a makeshift bed in the tub. Word got around to the barflies and the baptists My mama's phone started ringin' off the hook I can hear her now sayin' she ain't gonna have it Don't matter how you feel, it only matters how you look     The next morning it was no longer the three who knew. Charles had gone down to the bar to drink himself under the table. The bar flies had all heard about (Name)’s screaming and bickering with Charles as he tried to explain what had happened. Raven had to forcibly remove the door of the bathroom that morning and drag (Name) kicking and screaming from the bathroom, only to have her escape from his grasp. She had taken refuge in Erik’s room attached to the living room. She locked and bolted the doors to Erik’s room, with Charles again trying to reason with her to come out. She would spend the next several days, before the next conference, locked in his room much to Charles distaste. Erik was supposed to be joining them the day before the conference.  

Go and fix your makeup girl it's, just a break up run an' Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I Raised you better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart, But this ain't my mama's broken heart

    Raven had to call Erik on the third day of (Name) locking herself in his room, to ask him what to do. He was supposed to arrive two days later, and she expected him to deal with it then. He didn’t give her answer, instead he hung up the phone. Erik, after hanging up, packed his bag and drove, not saying a word to anyone at the school. He arrived at three in the morning after stopping at a supermarket. It had been an almost non stop trip to the hotel in D.C. He had picked up various items including chocolate. Saying nothing Erik walked past a snoozing Charles on the couch in the living room. He made his way to his bedroom, only to find it locked. With ease he moved the metal components of the lock, allowing him to enter before locking the door behind him. Inside his room laid a now wide awake (Name), who was pointing a gun square at him. He raised the bag in his hand and she lowered the gun. Setting the bag on the bed next to (Name) along with his luggage, he pulled out a pair of comfy PJ’s, before making his way into the bathroom to change. (Name) happily went through the bag finding: Chocolate, wine and plastic glasses. She looked at the other luggage bag Erik had brought with him, it was one of hers. Inside she found her flattering (f/c) dress, matching stilettos, makeup, brushes and hair accessories, and most importantly a small metal bird on a necklace. (Name) happily laid the object on the desk chair before Erik made his way back into the room.

I wish I could be just a little less dramatic like a, Kennedy when Camelot went down in flames Leave it to me to be holdin' the matches When the fire trucks show up and there's nobody else to blame

    He helped her put on the necklace before putting the rest of the items in the bag once more. Erik pulled her into a hug and the tears flowed. She cried until there were no more tears to shed. They laid in the bed on top of the covers until she stopped. He was almost thrilled when he saw the ring no longer rested on her finger. He had always had feeling for her but Charles beat him to her.  He knew it would take a while for her heart to heal but he would wait thousands of lifetime just to be with her. (Name) gave a weak smile before sitting up and breaking open the chocolate and wine. The wine was poured into glasses and gone before the sun rose.

Can't get revenge and keep a spotless reputation Sometimes revenge is a choice you gotta make My mama came from a softer generation Where you get a grip and bite your lip just to save a little face

It was the morning of the conference when (Name) was seen once more. Erik, Raven and Charles were sitting around the breakfast table making plans for the evening. They had been all informed that the conference would be moved directly after the gallea and Charles would be giving his speech there. (Name) was dressed and ready for the day when she walked out to the dining room. Charles stood from where he once sat but was stopped before he could say anything to (Name).

“When's the conference?” questioned (Name) as she took a seat at the table.

“During the gala, which we are required to attend,” Raven said fixing (Name) a plate.

(Name) gave a weak smile and ate her food in silence. There was small talk between Erik and Raven while they all ate except for Charles who was still standing.

“Charles,” (Name) said at last.

He snapped out of his daze and looked at her.

“Yes?” he said shakily. It caught Raven off guard of the behavior along with Charles and Erik as well. (Name) was unfazed by it.

“Sit, it’s very unbecoming of you to idly dream off while standing.”

“Of course,” he said sitting down. He said nothing the rest of the morning.

After breakfast, (Name) and Raven set out to go shopping. They were looking for a dress for the night’s event. Raven had bought several dresses to wear but to the change of location and people attending would make them look unprofessional. They would ridiculed behind their backs about their simple clothing style.     Go and fix your makeup girl it's, just a break up run an' Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I Raised you better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart, But this ain't my mama's broken heart

Charles and Raven arrived and were announced together. It was a masquerade ball in truth. They didn’t know until moments before arriving. They were in the main area when (Name) had arrived with Erik. (Name) was in a stunning, glistening (f/c) dress. It was floor length with a slit in it. The top was embroidered with beads and jewels. It was her necklace that caught Charles’s eyes. He had seen it on her at breakfast. He turned slightly red and gritted his teeth while Erik walked her down the grand staircase. (Name) smiled as her title was read with Erik’s name. The room fell silent as she walked with Erik.

“Archduchess (Lastname) of Austria house of Babenberg, accompanied by Erik Lehnsherr.”

Nothing was said as they walked and made their way down to the main floor. (Name) was instantly greeted by many high ranking military men along with other nobility. Charles could only stand and stare at the woman before him. His love of his life, had never told him about her title or anything about her past really. He had never pride about it nor read her mind. All he knew from Erik was that they had been together during those several horrible years. He didn’t even know what her mutation was. Erik had mention it once that she didn’t like to use it for it had some nasty effects.

Powder your nose, paint your toes line your lips and keep 'em closed Cross your legs, dot your I's and never let 'em see you cry

The night went off without a hitch even when they were all asked to dance. (Name) seemed to be enjoying herself but Charles knew beneath the painted face she was breaking. Her smile was fake but no one else could tell. She laughed at jokes and kept a composer like no ones business. Charles gave his presentation and like always (Name) was the first to clap and soon the rest joined in. She signed her name on Charles's petition and then a line formed to sign it. (Name) happily made out a check and soon the whole room started to as well, each trying to outbid each other.

Go and fix your make up well it's, just a break up run an' Hide your crazy and start actin' like a lady 'cause I Raised you better, gotta keep it together even when you fall apart, But this ain't my mama's broken heart

Erik and (Name) were some of the last to leave the party, for Raven and Charles had jumped ship only a few hours after the presentation. (Name) was carried by Erik into the hotel room while Charles and Raven watched the news. The whole conference had been a splash with the media. There was raving support from the high ranking officials of the world who had come to see the conference. Charles had turned his attention from the t.v. to (Name) and Erik. (Name) was sitting on the kitchen counter while Erik was grabbing something for them to drink. (Name)’s smile still hadn’t faltered. Raven joined in on Erik’s and (Name)’s celebration while Charles made his way to bed. The group happily drank until late at night, but it was (Name) who was left awake at three.

(Name) sat on the couch with the record player softly playing. She was sitting there sipping the wine they had opened. Her shoes were by the end of the couch as she stared out the window. Charles had woken from a dream when he decided to get something to drink.

“(Name),” he said softly trying not to scare him.

“Ya?” she said still staring out the window.

“Can we talk?” he said walking over to her.

It was then when he saw the makeup was smudged and running down her face with tears. (Name) sat down the wine glass and looked up to Charles as he stood before her. Her eyes were filled with so much pain, it surprised Charles that she hadn’t had a break down at the party.

“There is nothing you can say to fix what you have done Charles,” (Name) said after a moment.

“I know,”he said sitting next to her.

“Why?”

“I thought you didn’t love me anymore. I thought you were leaving me, I...I found those letters in your desk. The one’s we're sending back and forth to Erik when he was gone. I thought that she would love me, like you once did,” he said tearing up.

“The pain I wrote about was my heart breaking. I never stopped loving you Charles until now. There are just somethings you will never know. I wrote those to Erik because he knows, better than anyone else, about what they did in those camps. Charles, I lost my family to those monsters of men. I was there with him with Shaw. There are just some pains, that you can’t understand.”

“May I?” he asked almost pleading with her. She nodded.

Charles could see the war, the camps, the torture she was forced into. He saw it all, every painful second. He saw the good too. He saw her mother, as cold of a woman was, helping her daughter with dancing. He saw her mother break after (Name)’s father die. He listened to (Name)’s mother lecture about upholding the family name. He watched (Name) fade into a girl the world wanted to see.

“I don’t care how you feel (Name),” Charles heard her mother lecture,” You will keep smiling weather it kills you. You will smile and laugh and tell jokes. You will be the perfect host. You will be happy. We are judged on that and that alone, (Name). You will uphold the family reputation or you will not come home.”

(Name) sat there staring at Charles, as those final word swished around her head.

“I never did come home.”

[oikawas]

title: the bravest thing i ever did was survive (for you)

summary: He would keep her safe; that would be his redemption. Not to help nurture the bright flame of the future, but to stand vigil. To safeguard it, until his next dying days. (ao3)

The world was spinning, an odd kaleidoscope of colours that made his headache even more painful. No longer could he smell the lush forestry surrounding the borders of Canada, but instead the telltale stench of a...hospital room?

He shifted, a groan escaping his lips that sounded like nothing more than a raspy breath and tasted metallic, tasted of dried blood and death. He remembered claws, blood, and the sound of crying children. Bullets, screams, and explosions.

Laura.

Using what felt like all his strength, Logan forced his eyes open, and winced as he waited for the harsh burn of the lights to reside. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear voices, but didn't have the energy to try and pull them apart. Instead, he took them in as a mangled mess of syllables and accents, hurried and messy in their execution. God, where the fuck was he-

"Daddy!"

Small hands grabbed onto his own, frantic and unyielding, and he finally zeroed in on Laura's blurry form, standing right next to the bed as she clung to him. With her warm touch came a flood of memories; Charles, Eden, their angry spat, and the assholes in the forest. Feeling the sweet touch of death, holding Laura for what he thought would be the last time. Her tears, his own regrets, and the blissful relief of rest underneath layers and layers of burning guilt.

He remembered lying in the blood-soaked greenery, thinking about how selfish it was of him to be glad of dying. To leave Laura to her own devices, despite her being his blood, his daughter. He had not regretted his sacrifice, nor the pain that was ravaging his body, if it meant she would be safe, alive. And she was. She was, she had been...she had been sobbing, tears sliding down her cheeks as she put pressure on his wounds in a vain effort to keep him with her. To keep him alive, to will him to live.

And here they were.

"C'mere," he manages to spit out gruffly, moving his aching body over so there was room on the cot for her small form. Without hesitation, she climbed up onto the bed and settled against his side, burying her face into his neck, fresh tears dampening his skin. He lets her rest against him without asking questions, content to hold her against him while staring up at the ceiling, mulling over his own thoughts.

For so long, he had thought there was no coming back from craving death. Not the thrill, or the adrenaline, but the simple desire of wanting to die. Not heroically, but with a bullet through the head. He was so far gone in his own misery that the bright light that Laura was seemingly wasn't even to reel him back to shore.

But here they were.

Laura tightened her grip on the flimsy material of the hospital gown, bending her body to push her knees closer to her chest to curl up further in his grasp. He relented, pulling her as close as his barely healed wounds would allow him, and she murmured her thanks into his chest.

Warmth bubbled through him, and for the first time in a long, James Howlett smiled. Tiredly, but it was still a smile. One that faded as the gravity of the situation set in.

He didn’t have a damn clue where they were.

Laura seemed quite comfortable, and her instincts were second to none. Last he’d seen, the children were prepared to run the last stretch across the border, but…he had passed out before anything else had happened.

Were they safe?

“Rictor brought us here,” Laura spoke up, almost as if he had voiced his concerns out loud. He glanced down to find her watching him, eyes blinking as she spat a few words in Spanish before shaking her head in exasperation. “He said…safe. Asylum, for us.”

He breathed in, forcing air through his lungs and fighting the sudden wave of nausea that followed the pain. His wounds were slowly healing, but the process in itself was taking too long for him to be comfortable yet. “In Canada? That’s what I thought when I heard him on the—”

“No. Not Canada. Somewhere else, a…a place for people like us. Mutants.”

Logan stilled, forgetting how to breathe as he stared at the girl in his arms. Her words brought forth a long-forgotten memory, a promise made by a man he once knew. Someone who had gone missing shortly thereafter, and soon pronounced dead by the U.S. Government. But…it couldn’t be…

“Laura,” he murmured, voice quiet so he wouldn’t alarm her in any way. Hope wasn't the euphoria threatening to break free in his chest, or the sudden erratic pace of his heartbeat. Hope was a small, dark-haired child with a shy smile and the strength of a wolf, and she sat in his lap. He didn't need any more than that, truly. “Was…is there anyone else here? Other than us and your friends?”

She frowned, keenly aware of his distress, and pulled away to face him fully. He was sure that his hysteria was starting to break free, drawn out clearly on his facial features, but the sheer prospect of having to face anyone in the aftermath of Charles’ death…

“The Canadian Government,” she began, brows furrowed, trying to string together the words in the correct order. “They meet us at the border, brought us here to safety. I had to scream for them to let me stay with you. Enough men came to escort us to this hospital. And sent them to bring you here instead.”

“Them? Who is them?” He growled out, hackles raised at the overcoming prospect of a threat. He tried to tell himself that Laura knew better than to trust just anyone, but the lone wolf in him needed to know for himself. For his own sake and the sake of the bunch of kids that had no choice but to trust the words of powerful men.

“The other mutants. They came to escort us to our new home, Rictor said. They…they said they knew you.”

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck! That could either be really bad, or fucking bad. There weren't very many people on this planet that liked, or even tolerated him, human or mutant. And many of the ones who tolerated him? Were now dead; had been dead for a long, long time.

Before he could instruct Laura to round up the rest of the kids so they could get the fuck out of there, the door swung open on its own accord.

And in walked Magneto.

Logan felt his jaw drop instinctively, eyes solely on the old man as he moved towards the cot with a sense of purpose and his infamous helmet on. Behind him walked came Mystique and Sabretooth, both with opposing expressions on their face. The latter looked to be in awe of their old acquaintance, while Victor was staring at him with horror; no doubt he looked like a fucking mess after all that had happened in the forest.

“Logan,” Magneto murmured, a faint smile gracing his lips in an uncharacteristically soft way.

“Erik,” Logan found himself saying, not able to keep the surprise out of his voice. To see three of his oldest acquaintances in the same room after so long…maybe he really was dead. Maybe this odd continuation of his life was his punishment for all the sins he had committed, all the lives he had taken. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Charming as ever, my old friend,” the man sounded dry, even as he settled into the free chair next to the bed and took off his helmet. Logan found himself thinking that Erik looked the same as he did the last time he had seen him; tired, albeit authoritative. Laura sat up, watching the newcomers with her lip pulled back in a snarl. A jolt of pride shot through Logan at the sight, but he was careful not to let it show.

“Charles?” Mystique asked, voice breathless. Logan here, alone, could mean only a few things, none of them positive. Erik glanced over his shoulder at his companion, before turning his attention back to Logan, equally expectant. “Logan, where is my brother?”

He closed his eyes. Next to him, he could feel Laura quivering, soft cries falling from her lips as she wept for the grandfather she knew. He reached out to wrap his hand around her nape and pulled her against his chest, offering comfort in the only way he knew how.

It was enough for the others to understand what happened.

He heard a heavy thud, followed by a drawn-out cry of anguish from a sister who had been lost to a brother now gone. A cry for the regrets and missed opportunities, the mistakes and the walkouts. Erik lowered his head, every inch of metal in the room shaking violently as the man himself drew in a rattling breath. Even with his grievous injuries, Logan could see the tears falling from the mutant’s eyes. They all knew loss, lived and breathed it, but to lose Charles was to lose the heart and soul of what had been their own ragtag group of heroes.

I tried, he wanted to say, so, so desperately. I worked so hard, for so long, and I…

He doesn’t; instead, Magneto raises his head and stared Logan in the eyes, fists trembling. The room stopped shaking. “Thank you. For taking care of him, even when none of us had to courage to. I abandoned him, and you, and for that I can never forgive myself.”

Well. That wasn’t exactly what Logan had been expecting. Instead of replying, he turned his head and stared off into the distance, weak sunlight warming his face. So much suffering, and death, and pain…only to learn their friends were alive. Tucked away in some secret pocket of the earth, thriving as a community when they had only themselves.

But could he blame them?

Charles losing control had had the most devastating impact on mutantkind in the history of civilization. So many of their own dead, so many familiar faces…it was near Shakespearean in its tragedy.

The mutant who swore to protect them all ended up being their undoing.

“He died after remembering what he had done,” he found himself speaking, voice monotonous as he burned in the remembrance of finding Charles, dying, in that quaint farmhouse. For so long, the agony of knowing what Charles had been feeling in those last minutes had haunted him, and he had desperately reigned it in as to not pour it out onto Laura. With Erik...Erik had just as many skeletons in his closet. “He died at the hands of a clone of me, thinking I was angry at him.”

“You did all you could,” Erik chided him, voice dangerously quiet. “You did not deserve such burdens—”

“Charles was never a burden,” Logan cut him off sharply, eyes burning. Words flew through his head, from friend to father to hero. Charles had been many things, but a burden? The old professor deserved more than that, deserved more than that last year of suffering he had lived through.

A heavy pause. Erik gave him a small nod, eyes drifting over to Laura; Logan had to hold back a growl. Magneto would not hurt the child, would never hurt their own kind willingly.

“Enough,” the metal user finally spoke, voice filled with gravel. Tiredness. “Enough suffering, Logan. Enough torture. Come with us, we will provide a haven for the children and yourself. Genosha is the last place on Earth humans would ever think of stepping foot on, even if they found it. It is time for you to rest.”

Rest. That sounded like a splendid idea; but could he? Did he deserve it? After everything he had done, all the blood on his hands, all the suffering he had caused?

Laura tugged on his sleeve, and he glanced down to find her staring up at him with pleading eyes. And in that moment, he realized something. Something crucial for their survival, the climax to his turmoil. What he had been feeling since that fateful day they had left the water tank.

He wouldn’t be going for himself.

Lifting his eyes back towards Erik, Logan gave him a single nod, eliciting twin smiles from the man and Laura. Laura, who immediately curled back up into his arms, a non-verbal ‘thank you’ for what he had just decided upon.

He would keep her safe; that would be his redemption. Not to help nurture the bright flame of the future, but to stand vigil. To safeguard it, until his next dying days.

Erik touched his free hand, a silent agreement to do the same.

“Let’s go home.”

[cherikfanficmania]

Attack of Apocalypse: A Cherik Fanfic

Chapter 4- Living Memories "I've been at the mercy of men just following orders, Never again." Erik said, he's blood boiling, wanting nothing more then to take he's anger out on the people who started it all. To make them pay for their mistakes. Erik's temper has taken control of him, taking control of he's mind and body. The nuclear bombs high in the air, lifting to the sky, the only thing that kept them up was Erik. He's name changed to Magneto soon afterwards slowly becoming the person that he wanted to be."Erik, release them!" Charles said but Erik wasn't listening. "No!" Erik replied with force back at he's friend. Charles tensed up, he's mind can't take it. He had to do it. " I don't want to hurt you. Don't make me!" Charles threatened at Erik even though he knew it won't work. " Stand back!" "Charles, that's enough!" Erik said, he's voice shaking and tense, getting more angered more then ever. "Erik, stop!" Pleaded Charles but nothing work, Erik won't listen. "Gentlemen, it's been an honor serving with , thank you for your service." He's hands still raised, the nuclear bombs now heading towards them all. The innocent. The humans. Suddenly a shot was heard and with the corner of he's eyes, Erik quickly deflected the bullet, thinking he'd won but soon a scream attacked he's own mind. Erik turned around and there he saw something he wished that will never happened. Charles. Moria with a gun in her hands. "I'm so sorry." Her voice trembles, the gun shaking in her hands. "I said back off!.. You. You did this." Erik chocked out, he's pain was irreversible. He soon starts mentlly chocking Moria; her airways blocked by an invisible force. " Erik. Please. She didn't do this, Erik. You did." Charles almost said in a whisper, but Erik knew well what he meant and he meant it. He's friend slowly slipping away and he's heart breaking a little but not enough to break he's spirit. "you did". These last few words flashed before he's eyes, and he woke up breathlessly. XMENXMENXMENXMEN " Erik, are you okay?" It was Raven who was seating across from him. " yeah, bad dream that's all", they were flying in the aircraft, the one that Hank had been working on since Apocalypse. Beside either Raven was Storm and Quicksilver( purposely placed so he was facing he's father), and next to Erik was Nightcrawler, Jubilee and Scott. Jean was free standing only latching on to the railings that supported the aircraft. " where is Cuba anyway?" Asked Storm. " It's just a short journey, we'll make it in a few minutes" said Hank. Raven was still shaky from the thought of flooding back the memories that seems so lost. Those memories that seems like the possibility of ever coming back. Cuba was the last place they wanted to look and since their First Class days it was too emotional for both Erik and Raven. " when we get down there I want all of you to stick with us. Is that understood?" Asked Raven and they all nodded. They touched down and it was as if memories entered their minds and swallowed them whole. Raven, Erik and Hank was the first to leave the aircraft as their feet touched the ground the fight in Cuba 1962 began to invade their minds. The fight. The explosions. The nuclear bombs. Sebastian Shaw and the Hell Fire Club. The coin. The bullet. Moria holds the smoking gun. Erik deflects the bullet. Charles screaming. The bullet had hit him. Charles can't walk. Blames Erik. Tears filled and fell down Raven's eyes and with so much fighting, Raven had forgiven all the things that Erik has done. All the things that happened was now the past and yet Raven still cries. " I know how you feel, please..." Said Erik who wrapped he's arms around her. Her cries muffled by the tight hug. " what now?" Said a voice from the aircraft. Raven and Erik broke off looking at the direction of the voice. " what do we do now?" Asked Nightcrawler, alone with him walked Jean, Jubilee and Storm. Scott and Quicksilver had also joined them as well. Quicksilver kicked the sand underneath he's feet, sighing deeply trying to block the summer sun away from he's face. "what do we do now?" He asked trying to move around a bit. Raven wiped away her tears and made a turned back to reality expression. " um... Well I think we should spilt up. The boys, you go with Erik and Hank. Jean, Storm and Jubilee you came with me. If ever trouble arises, Jean will reach you" said Raven and without commotion they followed her orders and set themselves into the groups assigned. Since Cuba was more then just a beach, the men decided to explore and begin their search for any sign of where Charles's whereabouts was and to point them the right direction. " so this is Cuba, I've been wondering what it would be like to visit Cuba" said Quicksilver as they headed deeper in the depths of Cuba. Erik stopped and waited for the others to pass before placing a hand on Quicksilver's shoulders. " hey kid, why come visiting Cuba?" At first, he refused and hesitated for a bit. He wanted to run but this was a now or never chance to tell him who he really was, to find the courage to tell Magneto the self made alter ego of Erik Lehnsherr. " um... My mother said it was the one place where she wanted to go with my father but he refused" he said. Darn it. He thought, knowing this was only partly true. But the truth was hidden within a lie. Erik frowned for a while before asking the question that Quicksilver wouldn't have never thought he would ask: " So what happened to you're father?", once again Quicksilver hesitated, the thought was a dead end. " he...he... He left my mother. I was very little" " sorry to hear about it, but if he loves you he'll sure come back" as with a smile, he patted Quicksilver on he's shoulders and had catch up with the others. " you have no idea" he thought to himself and had ran as fast as he could so he was ahead of the rest of them. The girls were walking alone the beach sides. They still couldn't find anything, and what seemed like minutes turned into hours. The girls were starting to get bored. " why Cuba again?" Asked Jubilee wanting more then just a walk around Cuba's beach. Raven smiled a bit before answering her question. " it's hard to explain but this place holds so much more then what it seemed" Jean, Storm and Jubilee wanted to hear more but when Raven refused to tell them, the girls pleaded anyway and so by then Raven had to tell the story. To relive the memories once more. " well, if you do want to know then fine. Like I said before on the aircraft, me and Hank were just like you, we were young and mutants. We were the First Class mutants of the X-Men. The Professor and Magneto searched for many mutants to join the ranks of the X-Men: First Class. They searched and searched finding the best mutants. Me and Hank meet through that, as well as Angel(another angel), Banshee,Darwin and most of all Alex, better known as he's personal agenda: Havok" She paused, breathing slightly before continuing again. " we dealt with the problems but Mutants were still feared and hatred upon and with the Hellfire Club on the rise it was hard to be mutants and be proud of our mutation. Soon, during 1962, we were in Cuba. We were at a ranks of war and all we could do was fight. Then tragedy strikes us mutants..." The girls stops in their tracks, wanting Raven to continue and despite Raven's need to find her brother was going to get through with very curious mutants. Raven sighs and takes a deep breath before continuing. " it was just between them, us and the non-mutants. It wasn't until Magneto, the name that I suggested, wanted to go he's own way, to seek revenge on those who've wronged him. What we didn't predict was he's rage and what it might have caused. It's been 19 years, still it haunts Erik..." Raven looked at the girls, soon images of her younger wild self emerged into the faces of Jean, Jubilee and Storm. " hello, are you okay?..." Asked Storm curiously. Raven shakes her head and smiles briefly. " yeah I'm okay, let's keep going we're wasting time" The boys have walked much further yet with no signs of finding anything. " this is useless, he's not here. Let's admit it and go back" said Scott kicking sand under he's boots. Hank stopped and glared at Scott. " listen, Raven took us here and you've got to trust her, understand?" Nightcrawler and Quicksilver began to have silent roars of laugher. Scott curled he's lips and looked back at Hank. " yeah, I understand" he said dully. Nightcrawler and Quicksilver were still laughing, out loud this time. Scott growled at them and had threatened to take of the glasses; the laughing stopped immediately. While walking, the girls have already caught up with the guys, meeting gleefully and exchanging results but nothing was the answer. " nothing, are you sure? Have you checked..." " Raven, stop you're acting up again. Charles will be fine and it's going to be okay" reassured Erik, placing he's hands on her shoulders. Raven relaxed; breathing deeply in and out. Silence filled the surrounding area before the area of trees behind them started shaking and rustling, all heads spun around, soon screams and loud noise echoed the surrounding Island which caused an unsuspecting arrival to appear from the tree growth.

[oncerpotter2018]

Attack Of Apocalypse: A Cherik Fanfic

Chapter 4- Living Memories

“I’ve been at the mercy of men just following orders, Never again.” Erik said, he’s blood boiling, wanting nothing more then to take he’s anger out on the people who started it all. To make them pay for their mistakes. Erik’s temper has taken control of him, taking control of he’s mind and body. The nuclear bombs high in the air, lifting to the sky, the only thing that kept them up was Erik. He’s name changed to Magneto soon afterwards slowly becoming the person that he wanted to be.“Erik, release them!” Charles said but Erik wasn’t listening.

“No!” Erik replied with force back at he’s friend. Charles tensed up, he’s mind can’t take it. He had to do it. “ I don’t want to hurt you. Don’t make me!” Charles threatened at Erik even though he knew it won’t work. “ Stand back!” “Charles, that’s enough!” Erik said, he’s voice shaking and tense, getting more angered more then ever.

“Erik, stop!” Pleaded Charles but nothing work, Erik won’t listen. “Gentlemen, it’s been an honor serving with , thank you for your service.” He’s hands still raised, the nuclear bombs now heading towards them all. The innocent. The humans. Suddenly a shot was heard and with the corner of he’s eyes, Erik quickly deflected the bullet, thinking he’d won but soon a scream attacked he’s own mind. Erik turned around and there he saw something he wished that will never happened. Charles. Moria with a gun in her hands.

“I’m so sorry.” Her voice trembles, the gun shaking in her hands.

“I said back off!.. You. You did this.” Erik chocked out, he’s pain was irreversible. He soon starts mentlly chocking Moria; her airways blocked by an invisible force.

“ Erik. Please. She didn’t do this, Erik. You did.” Charles almost said in a whisper, but Erik knew well what he meant and he meant it. He’s friend slowly slipping away and he’s heart breaking a little but not enough to break he’s spirit. “you did”. These last few words flashed before he’s eyes, and he woke up breathlessly.

XMENXMENXMENXMEN

“ Erik, are you okay?” It was Raven who was seating across from him. “ yeah, bad dream that’s all”, they were flying in the aircraft, the one that Hank had been working on since Apocalypse. Beside either Raven was Storm and Quicksilver( purposely placed so he was facing he’s father), and next to Erik was Nightcrawler, Jubilee and Scott. Jean was free standing only latching on to the railings that supported the aircraft.

“ where is Cuba anyway?” Asked Storm. “ It’s just a short journey, we’ll make it in a few minutes” said Hank. Raven was still shaky from the thought of flooding back the memories that seems so lost. Those memories that seems like the possibility of ever coming back. Cuba was the last place they wanted to look and since their First Class days it was too emotional for both Erik and Raven.

“ when we get down there I want all of you to stick with us. Is that understood?” Asked Raven and they all nodded. They touched down and it was as if memories entered their minds and swallowed them whole. Raven, Erik and Hank was the first to leave the aircraft as their feet touched the ground the fight in Cuba 1962 began to invade their minds. The fight. The explosions. The nuclear bombs. Sebastian Shaw and the Hell Fire Club. The coin. The bullet. Moria holds the smoking gun. Erik deflects the bullet. Charles screaming. The bullet had hit him. Charles can’t walk. Blames Erik. Tears filled and fell down Raven’s eyes and with so much fighting, Raven had forgiven all the things that Erik has done. All the things that happened was now the past and yet Raven still cries. “ I know how you feel, please…” Said Erik who wrapped he’s arms around her. Her cries muffled by the tight hug.

“ what now?” Said a voice from the aircraft. Raven and Erik broke off looking at the direction of the voice. “ what do we do now?” Asked Nightcrawler, alone with him walked Jean, Jubilee and Storm. Scott and Quicksilver had also joined them as well. Quicksilver kicked the sand underneath he’s feet, sighing deeply trying to block the summer sun away from he’s face. “what do we do now?” He asked trying to move around a bit. Raven wiped away her tears and made a turned back to reality expression. “ um… Well I think we should spilt up. The boys, you go with Erik and Hank. Jean, Storm and Jubilee you came with me. If ever trouble arises, Jean will reach you” said Raven and without commotion they followed her orders and set themselves into the groups assigned. Since Cuba was more then just a beach, the men decided to explore and begin their search for any sign of where Charles’s whereabouts was and to point them the right direction.

“ so this is Cuba, I’ve been wondering what it would be like to visit Cuba” said Quicksilver as they headed deeper in the depths of Cuba. Erik stopped and waited for the others to pass before placing a hand on Quicksilver’s shoulders. “ hey kid, why come visiting Cuba?” At first, he refused and hesitated for a bit. He wanted to run but this was a now or never chance to tell him who he really was, to find the courage to tell Magneto the self made alter ego of Erik Lehnsherr.

“ um… My mother said it was the one place where she wanted to go with my father but he refused” he said. Darn it. He thought, knowing this was only partly true. But the truth was hidden within a lie. Erik frowned for a while before asking the question that Quicksilver wouldn’t have never thought he would ask: “ So what happened to you’re father?”, once again Quicksilver hesitated, the thought was a dead end.

“ he…he… He left my mother. I was very little” “ sorry to hear about it, but if he loves you he’ll sure come back” as with a smile, he patted Quicksilver on he’s shoulders and had catch up with the others. “ you have no idea” he thought to himself and had ran as fast as he could so he was ahead of the rest of them. The girls were walking alone the beach sides. They still couldn’t find anything, and what seemed like minutes turned into hours. The girls were starting to get bored.

“ why Cuba again?” Asked Jubilee wanting more then just a walk around Cuba’s beach. Raven smiled a bit before answering her question. “ it’s hard to explain but this place holds so much more then what it seemed” Jean, Storm and Jubilee wanted to hear more but when Raven refused to tell them, the girls pleaded anyway and so by then Raven had to tell the story. To relive the memories once more.

“ well, if you do want to know then fine. Like I said before on the aircraft, me and Hank were just like you, we were young and mutants. We were the First Class mutants of the X-Men. The Professor and Magneto searched for many mutants to join the ranks of the X-Men: First Class. They searched and searched finding the best mutants. Me and Hank meet through that, as well as Angel(another angel), Banshee,Darwin and most of all Alex, better known as he’s personal agenda: Havok” She paused, breathing slightly before continuing again. “ we dealt with the problems but Mutants were still feared and hatred upon and with the Hellfire Club on the rise it was hard to be mutants and be proud of our mutation. Soon, during 1962, we were in Cuba. We were at a ranks of war and all we could do was fight. Then tragedy strikes us mutants…”

The girls stops in their tracks, wanting Raven to continue and despite Raven’s need to find her brother was going to get through with very curious mutants. Raven sighs and takes a deep breath before continuing. “ it was just between them, us and the non-mutants. It wasn’t until Magneto, the name that I suggested, wanted to go he’s own way, to seek revenge on those who’ve wronged him. What we didn’t predict was he’s rage and what it might have caused. It’s been 19 years, still it haunts Erik…” Raven looked at the girls, soon images of her younger wild self emerged into the faces of Jean, Jubilee and Storm. “ hello, are you okay?…” Asked Storm curiously. Raven shakes her head and smiles briefly. “ yeah I’m okay, let’s keep going we’re wasting time” The boys have walked much further yet with no signs of finding anything.

“ this is useless, he’s not here. Let’s admit it and go back” said Scott kicking sand under he’s boots. Hank stopped and glared at Scott. “ listen, Raven took us here and you’ve got to trust her, understand?” Nightcrawler and Quicksilver began to have silent roars of laugher. Scott curled he’s lips and looked back at Hank. “ yeah, I understand” he said dully. Nightcrawler and Quicksilver were still laughing, out loud this time. Scott growled at them and had threatened to take of the glasses; the laughing stopped immediately. While walking, the girls have already caught up with the guys, meeting gleefully and exchanging results but nothing was the answer.

“ nothing, are you sure? Have you checked…” “ Raven, stop you’re acting up again. Charles will be fine and it’s going to be okay” reassured Erik, placing he’s hands on her shoulders. Raven relaxed; breathing deeply in and out. Silence filled the surrounding area before the area of trees behind them started shaking and rustling, all heads spun around, soon screams and loud noise echoed the surrounding Island which caused an unsuspecting arrival to appear from the tree growth.

NOW AVAILABLE IN MY NEW BLOG: CHERIK FANFICMANIA...

[astormofships]

Pick Your Darling: Adrienne

“I'm in love with the shape of you, we push and pull like a magnet do. Although my heart is falling too, I'm in love with your body; And last night you were in my room, and now my bedsheets smell like you. Every day discovering something brand new, I'm in love with your body.“

Ship name

“Charlenne?” “This is an actual name.” “What about Chadrienne?” “No.” “Adrivier?” “Really Charles?” “I don't hear you help, love.” You wanted to remove the innocent smirk from his lips and used your lips to do so.There would be none, though. Pet names are enough. Darling, love.

Meeting

When Charles and Erik were recruiting mutants to stop Shaw.

First impressions, the way it used to be before it became romantic

Curiosity, of course. And wariness. Strangers waltzing in with a proposition to be a part of their little band.Were they serious? Apparently, the answer was yes. And you accepted. Right from the start, Charles and Erik displayed their mutations and quite frankly, it was alarming. But fear should not dictate your life, so you stepped over it and joined them. Seeing Darwin, the only recruit who grew on you die, increased your desire to stop the old German mutant on his way to Mutant's supremacy. Impressed by Charles' immense home, you thanked him more than once, even months after your arrival. It amused him but acknowledged the gratitude and told you that is was alright and to stop bringing it up. Talking to him was uplifting, for he was encouraging and positive. But also interesting, even challenging since he was a witty dreamer and not lacking brilliance. He was comforting, refreshing. Someone who could keep up with you, yet proposed another way to see the world. His philosophy danced with your passion. He didn't tell you to calm down, but knew how to make you use this heat productively or from time to time sooth your bad emotions. The wildest conversations occurred, not that any of you would care to share with the others. They were solely yours. Something you didn't want to share. Cute and well-meaning didn't stop him from being cocky and flirty, though, which is why you liked to playfully counter his words with a well placed line, showing that you wouldn't fall for his charm like a fly. It was an innocent game, going back and forth. Until feelings came out of the blue. Well, it was not shocking, but none expected to fancy someone seriously this year.

Who took the first step

You. As entertaining as flirting was, going slow was crucial. Being around a telepath wasn't a piece of cake, and you had to accept that. Or at least be more at ease. It wasn't until you trusted Charles' sincerity and respect of boundaries that you allowed yourself to feel and eventually, make your intentions clear.

Who approves, who disapproves

Most people are fine with the prospect of yours and Charles' happiness.

The best friend and the one you get along with the least

Erik, he is like your alter ego but with a different background. You wanted to punch him hard when he accidentally shot Charles and would have done so if it wasn't for your companions restraining you.

Raven. Both have passion, determination and the desire to protect those dear to you in common. She is spontaneous and blunt whereas you are more calculating and manipulative. Opposites attracts, right? You got along but your ways ultimately clashed. When she decided to leave with Erik that day on the beach, you couldn't help but resent her. How could she abandon her best friend, someone she grew up with, just like that? He was injured and she didn't stay. If leaving to fight for Mutants' rights was her true purpose, she could have gone later. After making sure Charles would live. But she didn't and it earned your disgust.  

If somebody else fancies one of you

ERIK. But which one is the real question.And Moira likes Charles.

The best and the worst

He is the sweetest

You are charming and smart

So is he

The smooth flirting

Deep conversations

His big house and how he generously offered to take the group in

You are both loyal and supportive

The book/lecture club founded together, taking place in his library

His mutation. You have trust issues and no matter how much you like Charles, you hardly tolerate him being able to read your mind. It hurts to know you aren't fully at ease with him but he can't blame you now, can he?The only time you didn't seem to mind at all or silently fret about his power was during love-making; no thinking, just feeling. Whether you favoured experimenting, teasing or tough, you knew by his touch or gaze that he cared and that those moments were meaningful.

Hogwarts Houses

Intelligent, open-minded, accepting Charles would be a Ravenclaw. Highly relying on cerebral thanks to his power, this choice makes sense.Ingenuity, ambition and loyalty to your kin means that you are a Slytherin.

Seven Deadly Sins and Virtues

Accused of being too soft and compromising, then taking in account his behaviour after losing the ability to move his legs implies Sloth. Benevolent, optimist and compassionate, this man could definitely be Patience and Kindness.The need for revenge and protective nature is an echo of Wrath. Willing to do anything to reach your dreams, along with a liking for lecture and learning, that would make you Diligence. No changes, oops.

Who is the sun, who is the moon

Ahhhh. Thanks to his calm demeanor and let's be honest, his face, Charles could be compared to the moon. Same for you: “her beauty in the moonlight overthrew ya” or “mysterious as the dark side of the moon!' are accurate lyrics. You are more than what you seem to be; less innocent and more loving than some would expect. But Charles is a leader, a pole star to mutants. That could make him the sun, in the end.

Endgame or not

You visited him and Hank more often than not after Cuba, but didn’t give up on your ambitions. Remaining supportive didn’t stop the ‘break up’ though.I can imagine it as endgame to be honest, but life might not let it happen for whatever reason.

Who I truly ship you with regardless of the request’s details

Charles, but also Erik. Spot on requests.