The Doctor and the X-Men

Magneto is Unamused

The two left, the sound of another bell ringing for the students to return from lunch to class. They had been talking for about thirty minuets. The Doctor walked beside the wheelchair the Professor sat in, making there way to the dining room.

     They entered, the room elegant. In the middle of the large room was a long table with chairs lining the sides. "This is where our students eat on holidays or get togethers," Xavier explained needlessly. A tray with crackers and British tea sat in the middle of the long table, the Doctor sitting and Xavier wheeling up next to him.

     The Doctor poured tea for the both before taking a sip of the hot tea. The two sat in silence after a while before the Doctor broke the silence. "Rose Tyler. She died not too long ago. Well, she died about five hundred years ago if you want to go all technical." Once again, he didn't meet Xavier's eyes; his eyes were trained on the cup of tea.

     The Professor looked at the Doctor with sympathy, "I am sorry for your loss."

     "She died a good, brave death. That's what she wanted to my knowledge," the Doctor mumbled, taking another sip of tea.

     "Good."

     A few more minuets of silence enveloped the room. Their tea was gone by time the Doctor spoke again, "Do you, perhaps, know why I'm here?"

     "No idea."

     "Very well. The TARDIS does that form time to time. Pretty old thing, I might add."

     Suddenly, a young African women ran into the room. Her hair was white and curly, it reaching her shoulders. "Professor, we have a problem," she was slightly short of breath, obviously having ran there. "Erik, he's outside."

     "Is he alone, Storm?" Xavier prompted. His exterior was calm, yet it was obvious to the Doctor and probably Storm that he was nervous.

     "Seemingly, yes; but I wouldn't trust him Professor. It's Erik after all."

     "Yes. Quite right," he turned to the Doctor. "Doctor, would you like to meet the Great and Powerful Magneto?"

     The Doctor smiled, "I'd love to!" He looked to Storm, a scowl on her face of untrustworthiness, "I mean… yes. I uh, would." He said this in a more serious tone, yet laughing to himself when she turned away to go warn the others.

     "Well, let's go meet him. Not right to keep an old friend waiting right, Doctor?" Xavier wheeled himself out of the room, followed by a very eager Doctor.

     The Doctor's hands went back to his pockets, the coat's tail flaps following him as he jogged to keep up with Xavier. "Magneto. Here? Why's that do you believe, Professor?"

     "With Erik, I can never tell. He has this helmet that shields him from telepaths. Quite good for him, yet a disadvantage to me. I can't read anything thought like from him until he removes the helmet," the Professor replied as the Doctor opened the large doors to the front of the school mansion.

     In front of them was a tall, skinny man that looked to be the age of Xavier. He wore a uniform: it was a dark red and purple accented suit, obviously coated in body armor; a black belt, boots and gloves; a purple cape; and a helmet that matched the set. The Doctor smiled, rocking on his heels.

     "Another minion, Charles?" the man's voice lagged, his words vile and German accented.

     "Just a friend, Erik," Charles responded to Erik calmly.

     "Hello Erik, I'm the Doctor," the Doctor introduced himself cheerfully, sticking out his hand for Erik to shake.

     "Did I ask, Doctor?"

     "Erik, play nice," Xavier scolded him like a mother to her child.

     With obvious dislike, Erik put his own hand forward. He gave the Doctor's a firm shake, quickly retracting his hand. "Erik. Erik Lehnsherr. I'm guessing you're another one of my dear friend Charles's companions? You're obviously not a brainwashed student."

     The Doctor opened his mouth to respond before the Professor interrupted, "What are you doing here, Erik? It's not like you to come over on the just the mere whim."

     "There's trouble brewing, Charles. Deep trouble. I thought I might as well come and warn you," Erik answered, showing concern for his old friend.

     "Maybe this is better said inside?" Charles asked, his eyes flicking to the side to motion they move the mansion.

     "No, Charles. I believe we both know how your students and staff would react to seeing me in their little… safe haven," Erik gave a small and sort of creepy smile.

     "Quite right, I'm afraid," the Professor sighed, his full attention back on his friend. "Now, what kind of trouble do you speak of?"

     "The MRD. They are growing. One of my own was captured recently, going into their prisons for a while. He gathered some information while there, however," Erik replied. He was quiet now, the Doctor straining to hear as he leaned closer. This cause him to get the stink eye from Erik.

     "I see," Charles mumbled, the years of stress showing in his eyes. "Thank you Erik. I thank you for warning me; it's greatly appreciated."

     With a nod, the man walked off. Once outside of the gates, he lifted up his hands and flew away with the cape whipping behind him.

     "Magneto, the master of metal," the Doctor sighed, his eyes following the figure as it grew smaller and soon into nothingness.

     "Quite right, Doctor." Xavier turned himself around and rolled back to the mansion.

     It took a moment for the Doctor to realize he was being left before he jogged to catch up with the Doctor. "So, the MRD. That’s the… oh what's it called…"

     "Mutant Response Division," Xavier finished for him.

     "Ah yes! Mutant Response Division. I see why you call them MRD."

     "Yes. It's quite easier." They entered back into the mansion. The halls were streaming with kids once more, the final bell having sounded. It was Friday and all of the older students were heading to their dorms to get ready for the night's plans. A group of younger students ran by the Doctor and the Professor, going outside to play basketball before dark came. For a while, the Doctor and Xavier stayed there, watching the students stream around them. "It's horrible. They have to live under the boot of a man with a gun," Xavier sighed as the halls started to clear up. "They deserve to enjoy their childhood, not live in fear of humans around them."

     "But you believe in peace, don't you?" the Doctor asked, looking down at the Professor.

     "Ah, yes. Of course I do; however sometimes, Doctor, you find it terribly hard to believe there ever will be. That there will ever be hope for a future where humans and mutants live peacefully," Xavier sighed, the hall finally clear with the exception of a few stragglers.

       "Oh how I do know that feeling."