Light A Way

45

"Are you up for walking?" Charles asked while removing her hand from his face and gently holding onto it. "There's someone downstairs who's been waiting to say hello." Charles watched as she looked confused yet slowly nodded. "Come on," standing up he held a hand out. Though they had just had contact mere moments ago, Elsie looked at his hand as if it was the most offensive thing she had ever seen. Charles saddened, it was like being back at the beginning. Yet when he thought about this, he supposed after being apart for so many years they would have to start afresh. "You won't burn me," he reassured with a smirk. He remembered too well that was her past problem with contact. "You won't harm me, likewise I won't harm you." She looked up at him with a thoughtful look before reaching up and slipping her hand into his. Carefully encasing her fingers with his own, Charles helped her to stand. She was unsteady, at first. She faltered and almost fell. If he hadn't caught and steadied her, she would've been on the floor. "Easy, easy, there's no rush." He said calmly while letting go of her hand to briefly grab a spare blanket from the end of the bed and throw it around her shoulders. So far she still felt cool, he figured as soon as the last traces of the drugs were out of her system she'd be back to normal. Well in the sense she'd have control over her powers again, and this would cause her temperature to rise. "Come on," putting her hand back into his, he slowly led her towards the door.

"This...this is my old room." Elsie noted as they left, she looked about the hallway and nodded. She remembered it, she remembered she spontaneously chose it when she had first come here all those years ago. Her expression saddened at the thought of the past.

"Yes, I thought you'd appreciate waking in familiar surroundings." Charles explained. He had caught sight of her expression and saw fit to strike up a conversation to divert her thoughts. He didn't need to have his powers to know that her thoughts right now weren't cheerful.

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me."

"I do..." Elsie stopped her awkward shuffling and looked to him as he stopped and turned to look at her. "You came for me!" She exclaimed sadly while choking back another sob. This was all too much to take.

Charles looked at her sadly though. "But it took years, Elsie. Look what's happened from my lateness...I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to take so long..."

She shook her head and reached forwards and pulled him against herself. Burying her face in the crook of his neck, she sniffed quietly. It didn't take long for his arms to wind around her waist and hold her closely and tightly too. "You came for me...that's all that matters. Forget about how long it took, Charles, you dwell on that and you'll forever be bitter about it." She whispered while shutting her eyes and just enjoying for the first time in so long the feeling of being wanted.

"You don't hate me for it?"

"I could never hate you." Elsie admitted while pulling back. Frowning she laughed suddenly much to his confusion. "I must say though...I got a haircut inflicted on me, but it looks like you need one inflicted on you. What's with this, huh?" She smiled and ran a hand through his hair.

Charles smiled, for a moment the old her returned, in attitude, yet she still looked so forlorn. "I'm trying out a new look, what...you don't like it?"

"You trying out new looks stems from heavy duty headphones and now long hair as well as facial hair? You don't do fashion in halves, do you?" Elsie asked distinctly remembering the last sarcastic fashion statement he did was using headphones which he needed for Sean's training. Looking around she frowned, she knew. Through it all she had been divulged to some fellow mutants downfalls. Sean's being one of them. She was heartbroken when she heard, she still was. He was a great kid and a brilliant friend.