Taming the Wild

You Are Not Alone

When Wanda and Peter saw that Charles was awake they were happier than ever. The twins instantly threw themselves on Charles, wrapping their arms around him to give him lots of hugs and kisses. In their wild expression of love they almost forgot about their teacher's hurt shoulder so Charles had to suppress a few winces so that he doesn't worry them again.

"Careful with him. You'll break him." Erik scolded softly, reminding them to mind Charles' wound

The kids instantly became less rough in their enthusiasm to hold Charles and never let him go. Charles himself was smiling and laughing with them, feeling at home which was a new emotion for him because he never truly felt like he belonged anywhere before.

"You have to stay with us, Mr. Charles!" Wanda insisted "We can take care of you, and play with you, and read to you..."

"Yeah, I can read too! I can!" Peter butted in, proud of his skills.

Charles beamed at them. "I know! And you're pretty amazing at it too." he complimented them both, causing them to grin even wider than before.

"I can make a drawing to keep you safe." Wanda said with a serious face. "So that no one shoots at you ever again."

"Aww, Wanda..." Charles felt his heart melting.

"It'll be like a talisman. Like the one daddy has in his pocket at all times. Only his is pretty and wooden." she added with a smile.

Charles glanced up at Erik - it was his wooden talisman. It was the one Charles had given to him. And Erik was keeping it by his side at all times! Charles couldn't help the soft smile on his face.

"And I won't leave your side either!" Peter assured, pulling Charles out of his thoughts. "And with me around, you'll be safe."

"Oh, thank you. Thank you both." Charles smiled, removing a lock of hair from the boy's forehead "But, Peter, I wouldn't want to risk your life. Guns are dangerous."

"But I can do it, I can really, really save you if someone attacks. I'm--" he hesitated, frowning a bit. "I'm pretty fast."

Erik chuckled, realizing his son's inner struggle. He could easily intervene and stop the delicate conversation, avoid the topic, but instead he decided to let Peter do as he thought was right.

"Oh, it's lovely that you're fast, dear, but we can't outrun a bullet." Charles sighed. Maybe Erik could stop a bullet though - control the metal, deflect the bullet in another direction, Charles thought. A warm blush spread across his face as he imagined Erik using his mutation. It was really exciting! So exciting that Charles couldn't stop his fascination with what Erik could do. If Charles was attached and fascinated by Erik before, it got even more intense now that the two actually knew one another better, now that they became closer, now that they shared this special bond. Now that they trusted each other.

"But I--" Peter protested. Erik was almost positive his son would now confess his own mutation to Charles. But the boy's strength surprised him. Peter only swallowed hard and then said a bit quieter. "I still won't leave your side."

Erik felt his chest tighten. His son, his 10 year old son, went through so much already that he dared not admit he had special abilities, not even to his favourite teacher. The boy was clearly afraid of what could happen if their powers were revealed. It was at that moment when Erik realized that the trauma his children experienced at the hunters' houses for a year and a half was still not completely healed and probably never would be. It was there to haunt them all and there was nothing much Erik could do about it but just be there for them to make it easier to bear.