We Live Forever

Chapter 21: To Trap A Professor

Crimson's POV:

"I think we should do it for real"

"You mean the sex or?"

"I mean I'm not opposed, but we do need to actually do this"

"Fine, but as soon as we're done saving the world..."

"I'll be all yours"

Hank leaned down and kissed me deeply.

"I like the sound of that"

Soon after - with some convincing - we got back to work. Despite the success of the first proper test, I was still nervous. Would it work? Could I control the memories being shown to ensure that Hank saw the right ones? Only one way to find out I suppose. 

"Bottoms up"

We once again entered the Dreamstride and with some difficulty, I was able to show Hank exactly what he needed to see. We watched all the dozens of times Charles had done something suspicious. The last memory we lived and relived was Charles stabbing Hank. 

When we came to Hank looked as confused and hurt as I'd ever seen anyone. I opened my arms to him and accepted the embrace, burying his head in my shoulder. 

"I just don't understand why he would do that"

"Me neither love, but we also can't just leave him there with the kids"

"There has to be some kind of explanation. There must be a good reason..."

Hank trailed off and pulled his head back just a little bit. I looked into his eyes and he looked as if he was on the brink of tears before continuing on.

"He wouldn't just attack me like that without a good reason, right? I've been his best friend for decades. I stayed with him when no one else did, I took care of him when everyone else left. What could drive him to do that to me..?"

A single tear started to escape his eye and I gently wiped away and then rested my hand on his cheek. He leaned into my touch with a small smile.

"Darling, I think we have to prepare ourselves for there not being a good explanation..."

"I know that you're right Crim and I hate it."

Later On That Day

"Let's review," I spoke gesturing to the whiteboard that was now covered in sticky notes and red string.

"Charles is using his powers to take people... somewhere."

"He doesn't appear too stingy with who he takes either, students, teachers, X-Men, strangers, even Erik."

"Exactly! With the amalgamation of people, we know that he appears to be acting alone. Erik isn't in on it and neither is the rest of the team."

"Clearly he's in a state of severe desperation. He needs information on...  something."

"This insistent need has driven him to a point where he is completely destabilized. He's hurting people he loves and kids he's sworn to protect."

"I also know that this has to be somewhat of a new thing he's doing. I've spent a lot of very late nights awake in the lab and I never saw him."

"So, what do we do with all this. We don't have enough information to convince the rest of the team, he also might've used his powers to mess with their thoughts about us; we can't count on them seeing reason."

"We also can't do anything at the school, it would put the kids in jeopardy. We need to lure him away to somewhere we can trap him and get answers."

"Yeah, somewhere isolated that we can booby trap to make sure he stays and actually answers us."

"Remember way back when Charles first had us go out to recruit students?"

"Our first mission was to go and talk to Warren in that old, abandoned warehouse... darling you're a genius."

"I'm your genius"

"How about we put that genius to use and figure out how to get Charles there in the first place."

"He's clearly desperate and not thinking clearly so it shouldn't be too difficult."

"We can send him a note saying that we have the information he's been seeking"

"Then we wait and hope it's enough."

Hope.

How did we reach the point where our plans had devolved into hope?

The Next Day

"You really think he'll start talking?" I ask helping Hank pull up the large piece of metal that was going to be used to fortify the entrance to the warehouse.

"Well, ugh, I don't think we really have any other option. I'd like to think I can make him see reason again, but you never know"

We tied off the ropes the piece of metal and stepped back to look at our traps. The door had been fortified, the windows covered with tarps, a makeshift cage dangled from the rafters a few feet from the entrance, blankets had been formed in a vaguely person-shaped lump on Warren's couch. 

I looked up at all the ropes that held everything in place and the suspended cage and I had a strange sense of nostalgia. I called out to Hank:

"When you were a kid did you ever play board games?"

"Yeah, when the power went out," Hank replied with a puzzled expression.

"Did you ever play Mouse Trap?"

Hank suddenly looked around and doubled over laughing uncontrollably. 

Author's Note:

Long time no see. I've been incredibly busy doing my finals for school and working on a totally crazy annual like $100,000 charity event as well. Everything went well though and I am now on a nice long winter break!

Thoughts on the chapter?

Predictions or theories?

Let me tell you something, whatever you think is about to happen. It won't be that. The next chapter is going to turn things upside down out of nowhere and I know I'm VERY excited; Crimson and Hank will not so excited.

Happy Holidays!