☭ POST WORLD WAR II, the world was a confusing place. Between the United States and Russia, the threat of nuclear war plagued the minds of everyone. The former allies fought with shady, backhanded trade agreements, showing off which nation had...
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* chapter nine — beginning of the end; 3362 words ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
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"IS HE TRYING TO KILL ERIK?" ASKED IVAN, LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW BY ANASTASIA. The blonde girl turned the page of her book lazily, her eyes glanced out the window and then back at her brother.
"Erik can move metal, and therefore bullets," Anastasia said nonchalantly, continuing to read.
"That's—" Ivan glanced over at his sister with a gleam in his eyes — "Wicked."
Anastasia smiled at Ivan. The two had made amends and were no longer tied into arguments. It appears that not only can Ivan heal those injured, but could heal relationships too.
"Did you and Erik talk?" Ivan asked, moving away from the window to sit next to Anastasia.
Anastasia closed the book on her lap to devote her attention to her brother. "No," she said softly. "I went to bed after I talked with him and Charles about my eyes, and — It's not even like I'd know what to say. 'Sorry I projected my anger and forced you to lash out at me.'"
Ivan shrugged. "I mean, it's not like he won't understand. I'm sure at some point he didn't have complete control at some point."
Anastasia frowned, her lips curling downwards. She understood her brother, probably more than anyone else. She just resented the feeling of his constant sense of correctness, but appreciated it in moments like this.
Moira, sprinting around the house, swung open the door to the side room and turned on the television. Immediately after turning the television to CBS, she rushed over to the window and yelled out: "The President's about to make his speech."
After her brief explanation, the residing Mutants filed into the room. Anastasia and Ivan continued to sit next to each other on the couch while Moira collapsed into a chair adjacent from them, exhausted. Raven slid onto the couch on the other side of Ivan, and Hank, Alex, and Sean all stood behind him. Moments before President John F. Kennedy went live on television, Erik and Charles joined them.
They all watched in silence, hearing the President discuss the situation at hand and all attempts the United States had made to act peaceful towards Russians. The ultimatum came down to this: if the Russian cargo ship crosses the embargo line, the United States will blow the ship to smithereens.
"World War Three," Anastasia muttered as the President's speech went off air.
"That's where Shaw will be," Erik added. His eyes locked with Anastasia's for a moment for he looked over at Charles.
"Two world-superpowers facing off," Charles said, shaking his head. "He won't leave anything to chance."
"So much for diplomacy." Erik's voice dropped with sarcasm. He looked over at 'Mutants in training' (so Ivan nicknamed). "I suggest you all have a good night's sleep."
