Light A Way

23

Walking into the room with slightly guilty expressions, Hank tried his best to look nonchalantly over the fact that he may have been a little sooty looking. Elsie on the other hand just looked blankly around the room, choosing to ignore the curious looks being sent their way. It may be admitted that flying was hard, and that Hank had been a little premature with putting her out, which really just resulted in her somehow creating smoke. Luckily enough no one else was outside to notice, or to get slightly swamped by the plumes of grey smoke.

"You're smoking," Raven pointed a worried finger at Elsie. She pulled at her hair and placed her hands over the smoking area. Removing her hands after several seconds she was pleased to see whatever was trying to manifest had now gone.

"What's going on?" Elsie whispered while looking to the television. She wasn't inside on her own accord. She wished to stay outside, but Hank had clearly had enough and had returned to the manor. Elsie begrudgingly followed, while dragging the fire extinguisher with her.

"President's speech." Raven said while the room went silent and the form on the screen continued talking.

"It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union.-" the volume of the television got turned down by Erik, who stood on the other side of Raven with a thoughtfully stern expression.

"That's where we're going to find Shaw." He said while pointing the remote in the televisions direction. Even with the volume down, the speech still continued on quietly.

"How do you know?" Alex asked while crossing his arms and sending Erik a sidewards look. He didn't seem to openly believe in what Erik had said.

"Two super powers facing off, and he wants to start World War Three. He won't leave anything to chance." Charles answered instead while glancing from the television to Moira, who throughout the whole speech had sat next to him with a rather blank look on her face.

"So much for diplomacy." Erik went on to say in a rather smug tone. Looking to those by his side he smiled, "I suggest you all get a good night's sleep." With that said he turned and exited the room, leaving everyone else a little lost for words.

----

Clicking her fingers and then taking to drumming on the walls, Elsie turned the corner and almost walked into Hank. "Woah, sorry!" She apologised and frowned when he merely glanced at her and rushed onwards. "Hank? You're not still annoyed about earlier, are you? Honestly, I am so sorry for asking for your...help..." Elsie trailed off when she heard the slamming of a door in the distance downstairs.

"He's not mad at you," turning around she looked to Raven. She was peeking around her door with a concerned look on her face.

"He's not mad at you, is he?" Elsie asked curiously while shuffling forwards. She wrapped her arms around herself and took comfort in the cosy two sizes too big jumper she was currently snuggled in. 

Raven shook her head slowly yet faltered. Looking down at the floor she looked to Elsie, nodding backwards she pushed the door open and disappeared further into her room. Getting the hint Elsie moved forwards and shut the door after her. Watching as Raven sat down in a chair near the fire, Elsie followed suit. 

Frowning, she reached forwards and picked a syringe up from the arm of Raven's chair. Turning it over she lifted it to the light and looked at it curiously. "What...what is this?"

"It's a cure."

"Eh? What?" Elsie lowered the syringe and looked at her weirdly. "Whatever for? The flu?" She joked and chuckled alone, frowning she looked to Raven. She looked at her blankly, slowly a frown appeared on her face. Elsie tilted her head to the side, frowning never suited Raven, nor did looking unhappy like she did now. "We...we are friends, Raven, right? So...if you've got something on your mind, you can talk to me. I won't tell a soul, honest."