Taming the Wild

The New Kids in School

It's been two days since the events of that fateful morning when Charles almost got killed. He was still annoyed at the fact that he couldn't find out who wanted him dead. Whoever tried to have him killed would probably try again so Charles was sure the identity of that person would be discovered sooner or later.

He was also confused as to why his telepathy did not work on Alston when it never failed him before. Charles suspected it had something to do with the strange material Alston had wrapped around his head under his hat but the body was taken by the authorities before Charles could examine it further. There was nothing to be done so he tried not to worry himself with that but instead decided to check for more traitors among the people he hired to find Raven.

To take his mind off of worrying about Raven and whether she was okay and even whether she was still alive, Charles threw all his energy into his new cause - the school! There was a lot of work to do and he was gladly berrying himself in it.

That sunny morning Charles was going through his books and notes again, preparing for the next lessons of the day when he heard someone coming. He closed the books and took out the small gun he was keeping in his top drawer, just in case. Turned out he did not really need it because the visitors were none other but Erik Lehnsherr and two kids.

Charles was surprised to see children around Lehnsherr - the tall rough man could scare a grown person, let alone a small kid. But here Lehnsherr was with these two little ones following him close by.

"You called me ignorant and uneducated." Erik began straight to the point. "I am now bringing you these two so that they're not ignorant and uneducated too." he said

"You really mustn't take my words out of context. I was referring to your attitude towards books when I said those things." Charles said, his eyes falling down on the kids and giving them a soft smile. "Besides I'm pretty sure I never called you ignorant." he added, looking up at Erik again.

Their eyes crossed and there was a short pause there during which none of them spoke.

"Are we supposed to stay here all day, daddy?" the little girl asked, tugging at Erik's hand.

"Daddy!?" Charles repeated, unable to hide his surprise.

Erik noticed that. "Those are my children." he told Charles, gently pushing the kids in front of himself so that Charles could take a proper look at them. "This is little Wanda, and this one here is a real ball of energy - Peter. He never stands still, I must warn ya."

Charles chuckled warmly. "Nice to meet you, Wanda and Peter." he smiled

The kids stood close to Lehnsherr... their father Lehnsherr... Lehnsherr who was a father... The thought was still so new, Charles could not yet process it. Lehnsherr was a father... These were his kids.

"That over there is your new teacher." Erik's voice pulled Charles out of his thoughts. "So you kinda have to talk to him."

The kids were still a bit shy.

Erik turned towards Charles again "They don't get out much..." he explained a bit awkwardly and Charles realized that this was the first time he's ever seen that man nervous.

Charles stepped closer to the kids and crouched down so that he'd look at them as an equal.

"I'm Charles Xavier. Welcome to school." he said with another warm smile.

The kids were still looking at him as if evaluating him, deciding whether or not he could be trusted.

"Are you going to beat us?" Peter finally asked

Charles did not expect that question. His eyes instantly shot up at Erik who only shrugged.

"No." Charles said firmly, looking back at Peter "No, I am not going to beat you. I am here to teach you."

"How can you teach us without beating us?" Wanda asked too, her voice quiet but assured.

Charles put his hands on each of their shoulders. "I assure you there are ways." he said with a comforting smile.

He realized it'd take time for them to get used to him. Whatever the reason was, they did not trust easily. Charles did his best not to let his mind go in that direction but his guess was Lehnsherr was after all as scary to them as Charles first thought. This realization made Charles feel sick in the stomach. The man really was a brute!

Charles and the kids talked for a few more minutes before they could finally let go of their reservations and accept the idea of spending the larger part of their days with him. That was a small victory but Charles wanted to bask in it.

"Why don't you get inside the class room and look at all those amazing things we're going to see and do there?" he suggested to the kids with a smile. There was a short wordless conversation between them and their father as if asking for permission. Erik gave them a little nod and they were in the classroom in less then a second.

Charles got up again, glaring at Lehnsherr.

"What?" he finally noticed the strange look on Xavier's face.

"What exactly are you doing here?" Charles asked seriously

"Bringing my kids to school. I thought that was the right thing to do." Lehnsherr replied

"Since when do you have kids!?" Charles blurted out

"Since 10 years obviously." Erik said, his voice getting a little annoyed.

"These kids haven't been to school before now?" it was more like a statement than an actual question "You kept them ignorant and unable to read and write until now!?"

Lehnsherr's face got scary again.

"How I raise my children is none of your business." he groaned "Your job is to teach them, schoolboy."

Charles was glaring back at him just as sharply as Erik. This time that man was not going to scare him. This time Charles knew just how right he was.

"Unless" Lehnsherr added "you refuse to teach the kids of a simple blacksmith."

"I never refuse to teach someone who wants and needs to be thought!" Charles said

"How noble!" Erik replied sarcastically

"I will teach them!" Charles said "These kids deserve to feel the light of knowledge--"

"Spare me the speeches!" Erik interrupted him with a grimace "And don't you dare harm them! I will find out about it and I won't let you get away with it!"

"Of course I won't harm them!" Charles said, insulted by the suggestion "I'll help them learn. I'm their teacher."

Erik mumbled something Charles couldn't quite catch and turned around, heading for his horse.

"Good day to you" he said as he got up on the fine animal with one swift movement which left Charles breathless. "I'll come pick them up around 5."

Charles nodded wordlessly, watching as Lehnsherr rode off. He then turned towards the school again, taking a deep breath - he had a lot to do for these kids.