Sylum Clan

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

***

He knew he couldn’t hide forever.

No matter what his inner six year old wanted.

Hank had returned with some soup, bread and fruit to get Erik to eat.  He scarfed it down, but then promptly fell back to sleep.  It was going to be the cycle for the next week or so.  They needed to get more food in him, and start him exercising – even if it was just to walk to the bathroom.

He had every intention of getting off the bed, taking a quick shower and face the children, but instead woke up with Erik warm against his side, and the sun shining through the window.  For a moment he thought it was that morning … the morning they left for Cuba.

Charles instantly noticed Erik was having difficulties breathing.  He shifted them, making sure he was sitting up, before placing the oxygen mask back over his mouth.   He sent a mental note to Hank, startling the boy awake, he apologized then asked if he could come to the room, with food so Erik could take his medications.

He knew Erik was tired and struggling, since he didn’t bitch at being helped out of the bed and to the bathroom.  The first time he had done this, Erik had argued with him saying he could take care of himself and didn’t need Charles holding his dick while he pissed.

‘It’s not like I haven’t had your dick in my hand before!’  Charles snarked at him. ‘It’s been in my mouth and ass, so holding it while you piss is not all that troublesome!’

Erik had snorted trying not to laugh as it hurt as much as everything else.  In the end, he’d given up letting Charles help.  He knew how difficult that was for Erik.

Once he got Erik settled onto the toilet, he prepped the shower, stripping out of his own clothes.  At least at home he could get into the shower with Erik.  The hospital had too many people coming and going, and the stall was too small.

The room began to fill with steam, as he stripped Erik out of his clothes.  He still couldn’t lift his arms over his head, so the button down sleep shirts would have to do for a while longer.  Charles steadied him while he got into the shower, both sighing at the feel of water against their skin.

He didn’t like how thin Erik had become, the man had an unnatural slim waist, and now he could see his hip bones, and he was pretty sure the image wasn’t sitting well with Erik either – too many bad memories.

Charles took his time in washing Erik’s hair and softly sponging him down.  At one point Erik looked down at him while Charles’ was on his knees, and smirked. “Such a wasted moment.”

Charles smiled, as his hands slid up his thighs, then gripped his hips.  He leaned forward kissing each hip, before leaning his forward against Erik’s stomach.  He didn’t realize he was crying until he felt Erik’s hands in his hair and soft voice in his head.

<<I’m still here Liebling.  I’m not that easy to get rid of.>>

<<I should be taking care of you, not bawling my eyes out in the shower.>>

<<Stand up so I can hold you.>>

Charles wiped away the tears along with the water.   He gave Erik a small smile, who pulled him into his arms, holding him close.  The two took comfort in each other, until the water started turning cold.  With a flick of his wrist Erik turned the water off, cringing slightly.

“Don’t do that.” Charles laid a hand on his chest, eyes on the dark staples against the pale skin.  “It’s only for a while longer.”

“It’s driving me to distraction.”  Erik growled.  “Think how it would be not to use yours.”

“There are times my friend, that would be a blessing.”  He moved them out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry them off.  “But I can understand.”

By the time they got out of the shower, and back into the bedroom Erik had to admit he felt better, he was now hungry and tired.

Hank had replaced the oxygen tank, and made up the bed to some degree.  He motioned towards the chair, where a tray was set with breakfast.  “I figured you would want to sit up and eat, feel a bit more human.”

Erik was going to make a snarky retort, but Charles pinched his arm as he helped him over to the chair, then gave him a look as he sat down.  “Thank You, Hank.”

“That hurt didn’t it.”  The younger mutant smirked, eyes filled with mirth.

“I’ll train you yet.” Erik gave Hank a half smile as he picked up the fork and dug into the eggs, he was really hungry.  He ignored Hank and Charles talking quietly as he finished off the toast, potatoes and grapefruit.  Without stopping the conversation, Charles handed him his medications along with a glass of water.  By the time he finished, he leaned back in the chair, head resting against the back feeling suddenly drowsy.

“Do you want to nap in the chair?”  Charles whispered softly next to him.  “I can wake you up in an hour, we can take a small walk in the garden, get you some exercise.”

“I feel like the family pet.”

“Only if I start petting you.”

“Could you, there are a few places I wouldn’t mind a rub…”

“Stop!”  Hank glared at the two of them.  “Charles you need to deal with Raven, she’s stalking the halls.  Let Erik rest, besides the kids are getting antsy to see him.”

Erik groaned and sunk further into the chair, he paused for a moment thinking back to the day before.  “Did Alex call me dad?”

“See, I told you they were our kids, darling.”  He kissed Erik on the forehead then stood up, smoothed down his shirt and made for the door.  He opened it with a flair of dramatic, and watched as Raven, stopped in the middle of the hall to face her brother.

He turned back around and took one last look at those he loved.  “For those of us who about to die, we salute thee.”  Charles held his head high as he stepped out of the room, to face his destiny.

The door slammed shut behind him.

“Better him than me.”  Erik muttered, as his eyes drifted shut, sleep claimed him once again.

“Amen.”  Hank couldn’t agree more, he was pretty sure it was safer in the room with a pissed of Magneto, than dealing with Raven at the moment.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

***

Charles never felt so exhausted in his life.

Erik was resting, finally.  He had made sure the pillows were fluffed and there were enough to keep the older man sitting up, yet comfortable enough to sleep.  The oxygen mask was resting against his chest at the moment, in case it was needed.

Erik’s breathing was labored, but at the moment calm.

Charles sighed as he moved off the bed, and made his way to the en-suite bathroom.  He looked at the mirror, and cringed.  He looked like he had aged ten years in the past week, with the rate things were going he would be bald by the time he was forty.

He splashed some water on his face, took a few more calming breathes of his own, before making his way back into the bedroom.

Hank was standing just inside the bedroom door.

Charles gave him a warm smile, as he made his way to the dropped bags.

Seeing Erik in so much pain seconds after leaving the hospital had terrified him.  Realizing why he was pissed and hurting, had angered him.  He knew that coming back to New York, and dealing with everyone wasn’t going to be easy.  But he hadn’t figured it would explode seconds they returned, he had hoped for a few hours at least.

“How’s he doing?”  Hank asked voice soft and low.

“Asleep.”  Charles glanced back at Erik, he couldn’t help the small smile.  “They gave him a sedative before he was discharged, lucky it’s kicking in now.  He’ll need food, meds, and probably another shot in a few hours.”

He dug through the duffle bag and pulled out the bag of medications and wad of instructions and handed them over to Hank.  “We’ll need to get some of these prescriptions refilled.”  Charles paused.  “Any means necessary.”

One of Hank’s eyebrows shot up, but he didn’t say anything.  He continued reading the chart and paperwork.  “He’s got metal in his chest?”  He looked up shocked, eyes wide.  “That’s not going to end well.”

“Nope.”  He agreed humorlessly.  “When he uses his powers it pulls on the staples and wire.”

“Yeah so seeing the person who shot you five seconds into recovery didn’t go well.”  Hank kept looking through paperwork.  “We’ve got some nice areas in the garden that would help with the exercises.  Doubt he’ll be up to his five mile morning runs, but a walk to the balcony could be good.”

“Give me the rundown of what’s going on.” Charles sat down on one of the chairs, waving a hand at Hank.  “Don’t sugar coat it.”

Hank dropped his hands and looked at his friend.  “What bad news would you like first?”

“The one that won’t make me screech.”  He sighed falling further into the chair exhausted.

“Well everyone knows you two are lovers.”  Hank shrugged, figured that was the less troublesome.  “Alex’s taking to calling you two mom and dad.”

Charles’ snorted. “I’m going to take a while guess here, and say I’m mom.”

Hank didn’t have to answer that question.  “Raven is livid I’m not quite sure exactly what’s pissing her off, but I’m guessing all of the above.”

Charles didn’t want to know what A through D were exactly, but he was sure he was going to find out in about an hour.

Unless he could hide in Erik’s room for the next ten years.

“Everyone’s leery of Angel, which is understandable.  Azazael has seemed to settle, but isn’t here often.  Janus stays close to Angel, but I have to admit he’s helped out around here, including going for food and doing odd things.  He seems to try to fit in, yet not.”

He waved his hand for Hank to continue when he paused, he knew what was coming next.

“Moira isn’t happy.  She’s feeling part prisoner other part warden.  Alex and Sean have been cool towards her, but nothing outright.  I’m not sure what to do about any of it truthfully.”

“And you?”  He asked gazing intently at his friend.  The fact Hank was still with fur, meant he was working something out for himself or at least hadn’t had time to figure out how to get the ‘beast’ back under control.

“I’m not sure.”  Hank shrugged.  “We did what we set out to do.  Shaw’s dead.  I’m not sure how, nor do I really want to know.  We’ve stopped World War Three, but the US and Russia are eyeing each other like two rabid dogs.  Cuba is caught in the middle, and well it’s like nothing happened yet everything has changed.  As for Erik, it wasn’t until I just saw him that made me realize how bad that moment was.  He took a bullet for you, so I’m grateful, but he wouldn’t have been shot if he hadn’t taken control of the missiles, but if he hadn’t we and Cuba would be ash.”

“That is a good recap of this fuck up.”

“Did he intend to kill those soldiers?”  He asked quietly, glancing at the bed.

“No.”  Charles sat up, resting his head on his hands.  “I saw it in his mind, oh he wanted to, but also knew not to … saying a soldier was just doing his duty doesn’t work on him considering his past, but he also knew most those soldiers didn’t have a choice in what was going on.  In the end I think he wanted to make a point.”

If the damn helmet hadn’t been on, he would’ve have been able to sense what Erik was up to.

<<You should’ve trusted me.>>

Charles looked over at the bed to see that Erik was awake, and probably had been through most of the conversation.

<<You should’ve trusted me!  You didn’t the moment you put on that helmet!>>

Erik sighed, shifting slightly on the bed.

<<Don’t you dare move and pull on your incision you asshole.>>

He snorted.

<<I didn’t want you stopping me from killing Shaw, and you know you would have if you could, no matter the high ground you take when using your power.>>

Charles’ eyes narrowed.  <<It was always your decision.>>

<<Cute you think that.>> He was fully awake, staring directly at Charles.  <<That decision was taken from me the moment he shot my mother.>>

<<You could’ve been the better man.>>  He argued getting annoyed with himself for having this argument when Erik should be resting.

<<But I’m not.  That’s what you don’t get Charles.  I’m not.>>

“You are!”  He stood up, stalking over to the bed and then onto it.  “You are and will always be better than Shaw.  You are not the monster you think you are.”

“I think Hank there would disagree with you.”  He motioned towards the other mutant.

Charles glanced behind him, to see Hank looking between them.  His blue paw moved up to scratch at the back of his neck.  “I think we are all monsters in our own minds.”

Both blinked at the younger mutant.  “You’re not a monster, Hank.”  Charles shifted to move to his friend.

“I’m not?”  He looked down at his body to see a ‘Beast’.

“No.”  Erik added his voice in with Charles.  “I know a monster when I see one, and you Hank are far from it.  Annoying, yes.  But to geeky to be one.”

Charles glared at him, only to focus back on Hank who was snickering.  “You don’t even like me.”

“No Hank, I don’t like that you don’t like your mutation.”  Erik shrugged only to cringe in pain.  “I thought the feet were odd, but useful. Still better than the humans.  Now you’re amazing, and you hate yourself.”

Hank growled. “Don’t make me like you.”

Erik laughed, which led to coughing.  Charles moved next to him, supporting him as he worked to breathe, in the end Hank moved and shoved the oxygen mask over his mouth.

Hank ignored both of them, as he checked Erik’s pulse, not happy that it was high.  “You need to rest, and no arguing internally or externally.”  He gave a small glare at Charles.  “You want to stay in here with him?  I can get your stuff from your room.”

Charles nodded, it would pointless to act like he was going to stay in his own room.  “There’s a list of dietary needs, make sure someone gets groceries.”  He paused glancing at Erik, he could feel him falling back to sleep.  “The food needs to be Kosher.”

“I’ll send Janus, he’s been really good about shopping.”  Hank nodded again, and then moved for the door.  “He’s not really a monster.”

“I know.”

“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m okay with him killing Shaw.”  Hank looked down, not wanting to see Charles disapproval.  “I couldn’t think of any way to keep him alive without him hurting others.  That and he stole Angel and killed Darwin.”

“She made her own decision.”  Charles pointed out, and that was yet another thing he had to deal with.

“Yeah, but we all make mistakes.”  He glanced at Erik, gave Charles a shrug then left the room.

“When did our kids grow up?”  Charles wondered out loud.

“They’re your kids, Charles.”  Erik pulled the mask down, giving him a look.

“Oh no, darling.  You helped me find them, they’re ours.”  He put the mask back on him, then shifted until he was sitting against the headboard, and pulled Erik close.  Only after a moment of hesitation, Erik relaxed and rested his head on Charles’ shoulder, drifting back to sleep.

Note: So who’s shocked there is already a sequel bunny running around for this??

***

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

***

Hank wasn’t sure exactly when Azazael would show up with Erik.  He had his room prepped, with an oxygen tank, blood pressure kit, an IV Drip line if needed, and stacks of bandages.  He wasn’t a medical doctor, but over the past week he had read everything he could get his hands on about chest surgery, what type of medications, pain killers, and after treatment.

He wasn’t sure what his feelings were on the whole thing.  They all had seen what had gone down on the beach, but no one knew what Erik was truly thinking, not even Charles.

Raven had been … still was … pissed at Charles.  Hank wasn’t sure if it was because he saved Erik or didn’t back him.

Alex and Sean were keeping their own counsel on the event.

Hank wasn’t sure why they were all in Erik’s room, he had asked Alex for help in case he needed some, which led to all of them being there.

He was pretty sure this wasn’t going to end well.

“A teammate who was willing to kill hundreds of innocent humans!”  Raven argued with Alex who was adamant that they all calm the fuck down, and be there for their teammate as he recovered.

“A teammate who stopped those innocent humans from killing us.”  He shrugged, not backing down.  “Hey I’m not saying he was right, I’m just pointing out he took a bullet to the chest to save Charles.  So give the man some slack.”

“He was ready to keep going with Shaw’s destruction.”  Moira entered the argument, which hadn’t really helped the situation.

Hank wasn’t even sure why she was in the room, seeing her was not going to help Erik … hell it was likely going to set him off, and if Charles wasn’t with them in the first pass that was going to be bad.

He wasn’t paid enough for this.
Wait he wasn’t even getting paid.

“Yet Shaw’s dead.”  Sean stood by Alex, backing his friend.  “Wasn’t that your goal?  Besides that bullet was yours.”

“Someone had to stop him!”  She glared at them, hands on her hips.

“Shooting metal bullets at a man who pulled a submarine out of the water.”  Janus spoke up from his seat on the couch, giving them all a look.  “Yeah that works.”

“Why are you even here?” She snapped at him.  “You were one of the enemy.”

“The enemy is the humans.”  He stood glaring at her.  “I might add they were willing to kill you, collateral damage and all.”

“Enough!”  Hank rubbed his forehead, growling slightly.  “At this moment we’ve gone over this a hundred times, and the answer is still the same.  Erik is recovering from a gunshot wound, and Charles is going to skin all of us with his mind if we don’t at least act civilized.”

“Well you know how mom gets about dad.”  Sean snorted shoving into Alex, who chucked.

“What?”  Raven glanced at the two snickering boys.

Alex laughed, only to frown.  “Oh come on.  They are so a married couple.”  He glanced over to see Moira’s horrified expression.  “So what you don’t like queers.  Yet you want to preach at us about how humans will accept mutants.  Who gives a flying shit their fucking.  Charles keeps Erik calm.”

“Charles isn’t fucking Erik!”  Raven yelled, blinking at the two of them.

“She’s kidding right?”  Sean glanced at Alex, who shrugged and they both looked at Hank, who held his hands up begging them not to get him involved.  “Charles has been by his side for days, like a concerned spouse.”

“Charles would do that for any of us!” She argued.

“Not hold our hands.”  Alex pointed out, with a smirk.  “Erik is the disciplinary, hard edge dad.  Charles is the sensitive we can sneak extra sweets from mom.  They work together.  They make us work together.  If we didn’t have them, we wouldn’t be here.  So if Erik found peace in Charles’ arms I’m not going to let anyone fuck that up.”  He stepped closer to Raven.  “I don’t really care if you’re his sister.”

“Charles flirts with women.” She stepped forward accepting the challenge.

“Oh please I know Charles darkest desire.”  Angel rolled her eyes, staring at the group.

She would admit it has been awkward as hell since Cuba, but she had nowhere else to go.  At this moment they all were just a ragtag bunch of misfits waiting for mom and dad to get home.

“Believe me it’s not cute miss CIA agent over here.  He likes them tall, ginger and in fishnet stockings.  And have you seen Erik’s package – woman I would pay to ride that big boy.  Charles’ is a lucky man.”

Sean snorted, giggling desperately against Alex, before he turned serious.  “Besides, he turned you down!”  He gave Raven an all knowing look.  He had seen her storm out of Erik’s room the night before Cuba, that wasn’t a woman who got laid, but one who got tossed out.  “Where do you think he spent the rest of that night?”

Hank glanced at Raven.

Alex shook his head, cringing at Sean’s bluntness.  “Awkward.”

“It’s like living a soap opera.”  Janos shook his head, watching the children argue.  “I’m so going to have to tell Azazael…”

“… to suck!”  Erik’s voice rang through the room, when the two landed.  He cringed in pain, falling against the taller mutant.

Azazel gripped him closer, looking over at Hank.  “Bed now.”

“Let’s move him…” Hank moved past Azazeal, taking Erik’s arm grateful that the mutant wasn’t fighting him.

He wasn’t sure what he expected, but what he saw wasn’t it.

Erik had lost weight, a lot of weight and he hadn’t had much to spare.  The pajama bottoms hung on his narrow hips, and the button down shirt, showed parts of the red ugly line down his chest.  His face was pale with dark circles under the eyes, and his body was shaking uncontrollably.   He was a man who was barely standing after being at death’s door only a week ago.

“I got him.”  Hank’s voice was soft as he used his new strength to help Erik to the bed.

The room began to shake.

Everyone looked around, hands reaching out, only to realize it wasn’t the room, but every piece of metal in it.

They looked at Erik’s who dark pained filled gaze was staring at Moira.  A lamp shifted, along with pens, a tray and a small knife was yanked out of Janus’ boot.

Alex stepped in front of him, hands up. “You need to calm down, dad.”

In less than a blink, Charles stood between Erik and everyone else.

All the bags he was carried fell to the ground, he stepped forward, cupping Erik’s cheek.  <<I need you to calm down.>>

<<She’s here!  The woman shot at you and has the audacity to be here!>>

Charles choked back his own emotions, as he laid a hand on Erik’s chest.  <<Darling you’re hurting yourself…please.>>

Erik cried out from the pain in his chest as the metal staples and wires pulled.  He gasped, and everything fell to the floor, as he sagged against Hank.

“Everyone out!”  Charles’ snarled, not even looking at the occupants.  “Hank help me get him into bed.”

Hank nodded, ignoring the tears he saw running down Erik’s cheeks, as he gasped for air.  Charles without thinking kicked off his shoes and moved into the bed with Erik, holding him close, soothing him as they worked to get his breathing under control.

He backed out of the room, followed closely by Azazael.   He would give them a few moments, and then talk to Charles about Erik’s care, but right now he figured they all needed to calm down.

He closed the door and looked at the group.  They were all staring at him, waiting for something he wasn’t sure what.  With a smirk, he looked at them and said the only thing he could think of. “Mom’s getting dad to calm down, once we’re sure he won’t kill anyone with a pen we’ll set up a time for the kids to visit.”

Alex snorted, choking on his laughter that sounded a bit like a sob.  Sean crossed himself, sending up prayers for both of them, wondering if there was a Patron Saint of Mutants.  Raven rolled her eyes, but sagged in a relief.  Angel nodded, walking away with Janus who gave a head tilt to Azazael who nodded in return.

Hank noticed instantly that Moira wasn’t there.

He sighed as his own thoughts churned.  He had no idea what the next step was, but he knew he was going to stick around to find out.  Though a part of him felt as if they missed the proverbial bullet … with his own humorless snort he couldn’t help think – because it hit Erik instead.