Sylum Clan

Part 10

***

Alex had snuck down the hallway and into the room, when he saw Raven stalking into the kitchen after her brother.  No one wanted to get in the middle of that sibling argument.  He slipped into the furthest bedroom, and gave Hank a half smile.

“How is he?”  He glanced over to the resting Erik in the chair.  Like the others, the shock of seeing their teammate coming back from the hospital hit home.  He was recovering from a gunshot wound.

“Resting at the moment.  I don’t like how high his blood pressure is.”  Hank frowned right down some notes in the medical files.  “We have to keep him calm.”  Alex’s snort was pretty much what the other mutant was thinking.  “Look lets be frank.”  He looked at the younger man.  “He’s got metal staples and wires in his chest… think about that.”

Alex frowned not quite understanding why that was important.  Then he realized what Erik’s mutation was.  “Damn.”

“He lashes out when pissed and also in fear, so if feels threatened.”  Hank ran a hand through his blue fur.

“He’ll use his power and it will pull on the healing wounds.  Yeah, got it.  Keep dad calm, which why haven’t we tied him to Charles?”

Hank chuckled.  “He has to deal with Raven.”

“If you two could whisper quieter some of us could get more sleep.”  Erik opened his eyes groggily glaring at the two of them.  “And I’m not your father.”

Alex gave him a smile and moved closer taking a seat on the coffee table.  “How you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been shot.”  He gave him an annoyed look.

Summers at least looked a bit embarrassed.  “Raven and Charles are having it out, so I figured I would keep you company.”

Erik shifted, cringing when his hand gave out from under him.  Alex held out his hand, giving Erik the leverage he needed to shift until he was sitting up.  He took a few breathes, trying to will the pain down.

Hank eyed the two of them, tempted to pull the oxygen tank over, but Erik seemed to settle down.  “I’m going to see about getting some of these scripts filled, Alex make sure he drinks more water and takes his pills in an hour.”

They watched as Hank left, then turned and looked at each other.

“Good he’s gone you can break me out.”

Alex held out his hands, shaking his head. “He’ll kill me.  And if he didn’t the disappointed look mom would give me, would just want me to kill myself.”

“Charles isn’t that scary.”

He gave him a look.

“Yeah okay, he does have the ‘I’m very disappointed look down’.”  Erik’s smirk, was enough to scare Alex even more.  “I’m not asking you to help me rob a bank, just walk over to the balcony.  I haven’t seen daylight or been outside in over a week.”

“Well that may have something to do with getting shot.”  Alex stood and held out both his hands, letting Erik use him as leverage to stand.  He easily shifted, taking a portion of the older man’s weight staying still until he was settled on his feet.  “You got this?”

He ignored the pain, instead taking a small step forward.  It was humiliating having Alex help him, like he was an old man, but at the moment he was grateful it was him and not the others.  Alex got the need to stand on your own, how showing weakness wasn’t an option.

It took ten minutes to get across the room, and onto the balcony.  Erik leaned against the balcony railing, taking in the fresh air.  He was sweating profusely and his body was shaking slightly, but damn the fresh air felt good.

“I can get the need for fresh air.”  Alex leaned his back against the railing keeping an eye on the patient.  He knew who would take the brunt of Charles’ anger if Erik was to fall and injure himself further.  He saw what happened on that beach, the desperation and fear had bled to all of them.

It was something none of them wanted to talk about.

But it was something Alex would never forget.

He felt Charles’ anguish.

It was when he knew that whatever was going on between the two men wasn’t a fling or scratching an itch.  That he understood.  You don’t spend time in prison, even juvenile prison and not get that.  His heart ached for Charles, and he was willing to do anything to fix it.  Thankfully Azazael stepped in and actually did do something, while the rest of them had just sat there like morons.

“So now what?”  He glanced over to the older man.  “I mean Shaw’s dead, which despite all the bluster, is a good thing.”

“I’m actually not sure.”  Erik answered shockingly honest.  “I’ve spent twenty years hunting that man down.  Hell for a moment there I probably would’ve taken over his organization.  He had some points, we are superior to humans and they will come after us.”

“But now?” He asked.

“Getting shot changed a few things.”  He looked over at Alex.  “It’s going to take me months to heal, and that is me likely pushing the envelope every chance I get.  I don’t have the energy to take over the world, at least not at the moment.”

He laughed, knowing full well Erik wasn’t kidding.

“So you’re playing house husband to Charles.”  Alex gave him a look, he knew Erik wasn’t a man to sit around and do nothing.

“He wants to open a school.”  Erik shifted until he was standing more upright, hands resting on the railing.  “And he should.  He’s right we need a place to hide.  A place where our kind will be safe, where they can learn to use their powers, to protect themselves and yes even others.  I know how out of control I was when I was a kid, I had spoons attached to me everywhere I went.”  Alex snorted.  “We don’t need humans using kids who can’t control their powers as an excuse to lock kids up.”

“So the world domination is on hold.”

“Don’t doubt for a second I wouldn’t bring the world to it’s knees if they ever came after Charles and his dreams of a school.”  Erik’s tone was dark and held conviction that gave Alex no doubt he would.  “So I’m going to do what Charles will hate, and make sure his school is protected.  There will need to be systems set up, surveillance in and around the school, and enough of a threat that if anyone shows up trying to bring harm to any of his kids, they’ll regret their life choices.”

“I can help you with that.”  Alex shifted sideways taking in Erik’s profile.  “Not every mutant is also going to appreciate Charles.”

“No.  Some will have had experiences with humans and will not like Charles’s naïve idealism.”  He agreed glancing at Alex.  “We need that.  You and me. We know what humans will do to us, hell we’ve seen what they do to their own kind.   We also have to watch out for other Shaws.  Mutants using mutants for their own gain, it’s not right.  And I hate to say I could’ve gone further down that path in my own extreme idealism.”

“You two balance each other.”

“I’m still not your dad.”  He gave him a dark glare.

“Sure thing, dad.”  Alex patted him on the shoulder.  “Want to go back inside?”

“How about a small walk around the hallway, then you can dump me in my chair and I’ll likely sleep like an old man for a few hours, and Charles will never know about the escape.”

Alex held out his arm, waiting patiently until Erik took it grumbling in German as he leaned against the younger mutant.  They made their way back into the room, and then out the door.

The coast was clear.

There was no need to talk as they made their way down the corridor, to the stairs.  Alex gave him a pointed look – they weren’t going down the stairs.  He knew exhaustion most be setting in, when Erik didn’t even contemplate it, just turned around to head back to his room.

They were almost home free.

When footsteps were heard coming up the stairs.

As they both turned, Alex knew instantly it wasn’t Hank or Charles.

He wouldn’t be that lucky.

Standing at the top of the stairs, was Moira.  Which meant only one thing, she was on her way to Erik’s room, as he was the only one staying in the section of the Mansion.

Alex stepped in front of Erik, ready to defend his friend.  As he mentally screamed for Charles, the light fixtures on the walls began to shake and bend.

“Fuck.”

 

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

Part Nine

***

The two siblings stared at each other, neither quite sure what to say.  Charles wasn’t going to apologize for being with Erik, or for putting him first at this moment.  He wasn’t even sure what Raven was pissed about, and he had promised her years ago he would stay out of her head.

He sighed, took a few steps away from the door and waved his hand at her.  “Just say what’s on your mind.  Whatever it is, you’re practically vibrating to let it out.”

“You’re fucking Erik!”

“That is what you’re upset over?”  He shook his head in confusion.  “Yes, though I wouldn’t put it that crass.  We became lovers when we were recruiting other Mutants.  He’s got a beautiful mind, it calls to me.”

“So you’re doing it for his brain.”

“Well he’s also quite handsome.”  Still not sure exactly where this was going.

“What about all the girls?”

“What about them?”  Charles sighed, feeling a headache coming on.  He really hadn’t recovered from the stress of the past week.

“You flirted with them!”  As if that explained everything.

“Yes, ’cause flirting with a man, would get you arrested if you’re lucky, and in some areas killed.”  He glared at her like she was an idiot.  “I’ve always been like this, Raven.  I don’t care what the package is, male or female.  But I’m not stupid to flaunt it.”

“So, basically you’re a slut.”

“Well if that’s how you want to think of me.”  His voice rose, not appreciating his relationship with Erik being cheapened or any of his relationships cheapened to such a level.  “I like people.  But I don’t fuck everyone I flirt with.”  He emphasized the word just to make a point.  “What is really the problem here Raven.  That I’m Queer?  That it’s Erik?  Or that you didn’t know?”

“How could you not tell me?”

“It’s not like you gave me a lot of options.”  He stepped back, and turned to head down the hallway.  “I need tea to deal with this, and I don’t want your screaming to wake up Erik.”

“Oh, yes precious Erik.”

Raven actually took a step back at the power she suddenly felt coming off of her brother.  Charles turned – eyes narrowed, hand moving up to his forehead.  He took a calm breath, relaxed and then in a tone, she had never heard from him.

“You can be pissed at me Raven.  You can call me a slut.  You can rant and rave about how everything I’ve done has been wrong.  But I will not tolerate you attacking Erik at this moment.” He held up his hand stopping her retort.  “I know Erik isn’t perfect.  He has a lot of anger in him, and a lot of pain.  And some very extremist point of views.  I am not excusing or even agreeing with some of his actions, but I am starting to understand some of them.  But he’s recovering from a bullet wound to the chest!” He snapped, hand gesturing to his heart.  “Because he stepped in front of it to save me.  So, bitch at me.  Yell at me.  Hell, hit me.  But do not drag Erik into our fights because you’re upset he decided to fuck me instead of you.”

And with that he turned and stalked to the kitchen.  He had the kettle filled and on the stove, a cup on the counter, by the time she caught up with him.

“How did you know I made a move on him?”  She demanded, eyes narrowed.

“I didn’t read it in your mind if that’s what you’re getting pissy about.”  He put the teabag into the cup before turning to face her.  “He told me.  What do you think I was grabbing a bottle of champagne out of the fridge for when you confronted me in this very kitchen?”

“Moira.”

He stared at her incredulously.  “Really?  Whatever bloody hell gave you that impression?”

“She’s cute.”

“She’s technically was our boss or liaison.  She wasn’t even here most of the time.  I’m not even sure what’s going on with the CIA at the moment, and really don’t care.”  He grabbed the screaming kettle and poured the hot water, he poured in some sugar and milk, and with a sigh he turned back around, leaned against the counter holding his cup, while steeping the bag.  “Okay so you’re pissed you didn’t know Erik and I are in a relationship.  That’s cleared up, so what are still annoyed with.”

She glared at him.

“I’m not reading your mind!”  He snapped.  “But you’re very loud right now Raven, and I can feel you anger, you’re practically seething in it.”

“You do realize you almost killed Moira.”

“Yes.”  His shoulders slumped, it wasn’t his finest moment.  He strained the bag and tossed it in the sink, he was stalling and he knew it.  “I was angry my lover was dying in my arms, and there was nothing I could do.”

“It was his fault.”  She crossed her arms across his chest.  “He was going to kill all those people.”

“Actually he wasn’t.”

She startled at Charles softer voice.  He almost sounded disappointed.  Well he should be, Erik had betrayed all of them.

“How do you know?”  She demanded, pushing the issue.

“Because unlike everyone, he lets me in his head.”  He sipped his tea, and then took a seat at the table.  “What happened on the beach was a fuck up on everyone’s part.  Mine.  Erik.  The CIA.  Moira.  The Russians.  You can blame Erik, but reality it was the humans who fired at us, willing to kill anyone on that beach or beyond.”  He gave her a look, forcing her to stay silent.  “I’m not agreeing with what Erik did, nor do I think that all humans are evil.  This past week I’ve had to look at myself and my own beliefs.  I can’t be this naïve.  I want to open a school, bring our kind here to teach give them a safe place.  But I also need to protect them.  Erik sees the beauty in all mutations.  He thinks you’re gorgeous in your natural form, and would fight to allow you to be yourself.  While I preached that we should get along with humans, yet tell you to hide.  Neither of us is right nor wrong.”

“You balance each other.”  She sat across from him, suddenly talking with her brother.

“Yes.”  He smiled at her.  “I love him.  I know he loves me, but he’s had a hard life filled with pain.  We will never agree on what the right thing to do, but I think we can learn to listen to each other.  My fault was that I didn’t really listen to what he was saying about Shaw, his fault was he never looked beyond Shaw.”

“And now?”  Raven couldn’t help but wonder.

“Now I’m going to help him heal, and then we’ll likely fight over exactly how to build a school.  Alex, Sean and Hank will snicker behind our backs.  You will likely in time take his side.  But in the end I’m hoping we’ll all find our way.”

Raven reached over and took his hand.  “I’ll back you on occasion.”

“Thank you my dear.”  He chuckled and took another sip of his tea.  “Is this when we hug and make-up.”

Raven got out of her seat, and moved around the table to settled next to her brother pulling him into her arms.  “You’ve always protected me.”

“It’s time I let you grow up.”

“I am grown up.  It’s time you figured that out.”  She kissed him on the forehead. “He hurts you I kill him.”

Charles held her tightly, and then let her go.  “So catch me up on everything else.”

“We need a staff or something.”  She sat back down, giving her brother a look.  “Janus is the only one who can cook, and it’s not that spectacular.  And Charles, I’m living with mostly boys, they don’t clean up after themselves.”

“I’ll yell at the children, and see if we can bring back some of our original staff.  They dealt with us as kids, so maybe Hank in blue fur wouldn’t be too shocking.”  He finished his tea and washed the cup out.  “Is Janus out shopping?”

“He’s looking for Kosher foods.  I think Azazael is helping.”

Charles knew that tone, and he felt the rush of arousal from his sister.  He turned on his heel and looked at his sister with wide eyes.

“What?”  She gave him a pointed look.

“You and Azazael?”

“You really can’t bitch.”  She stood up from her seat, giving him a wink.  “By the way, you do have one major thing to deal with.”

He sighed, and it had to be soon.  The last thing he wanted or needed was for Moira to confront Erik.  He admired her, she was strong, willful, and fought her way through a man’s world.  He wouldn’t put it past her to take Erik head on, but what she didn’t realize – Erik didn’t care that she shot him, he was pissed she shot at him with Charles in the line of fire.  If she confronted him, he would see it as a threat to Charles, and that would not end well for her.