Flickers (Charles Xavier)

Chapter 4

"We've trained hard enough for today, everybody. Moira suggested that we go out into the forest and have a picnic there," Charles walked into the training room where several of the young adults were sprawled across the floor with exhausted expressions.

Alex sat up, "A picnic? What are we, six?"

Charles simply smiled, "You're actually quite looking forward to it."

Raven burst out laughing, picking up her jumper as she walked towards her brother, "Well, seeing as Alex is so keen, shall we meet by the doors in fifteen minutes?"

Iris, who was laying on the floor by the punch-bag, groaned, "We've been here for three days and I think I have attacked this punch-bag far too many times."

Alex glanced over at her, "Have you been training your power as well?"

Iris closed her eyes for a moment, feeling embarrassed with what she was about to say, "I don't... I don't know what my power is yet. Charles and I have tried to unlock it- but it's quite a strenuous exercise and well... it's taking its time to reveal itself."

To her surprise, Alex held his hand out to help her up, "It'll show itself eventually, and when it does- I bet it will be awesome."

Hank, who had just walked in to speak to Charles, spoke up, "I can take a blood sample if you like Iris, and attempt to identify your power."

She shook her head with a smile, "Thank you, Hank- but I have a feeling that it's only going to come through with Charles' help."

Charles looked up at her and smiled, opening his mouth to say something before Erik walked in.

"What's this about a picnic?"

After everyone had changed into clean sets of clothes and picked up some food and picnic blankets from the kitchen, they all began to make their way towards the woods, with Charles leading the way.

Iris walked at the back, feeling slightly out of place from the rest of them. As kind as they all were, she knew that they were all wondering what she was doing there, and she felt like the odd one out.

"Any sign of your power?" Erik slowed down to walk beside Iris, who shook her head slowly.

"Charles and I have been trying to look into my past to find something that will help us. So far, we only know one thing."

She hesitated, wondering if she wanted to tell anyone what she knew so far about her past. Then again, she could trust Erik. He had been the person with Charles to recruit her in the first place.

"Shaw was somehow involved with my past... he instructed a telepath- Emma- to block my power so that I can't use it."

Erik's face darkened, and he shook his head in frustration, "Shaw uses people for their powers. And when he no longer needs them, he discards them. You say you barely know what we're fighting for, Iris, but don't you see? We are fighting against Shaw- this man who has had such a negative impact on our lives. We need to stop him before he effects anyone else in the same way."

Iris could feel the bitterness of Erik's words- the pure hatred of Shaw. She had never felt hatred towards a person in her life before. And she wasn't sure that she could, not like Erik.

"What did he do to you?" She blurted out, instantly regretting it when she saw Erik's hardened face, "I'm sorry, Erik- it's personal, I-"

"He killed my mother."

Iris' breath caught in her throat, and she gulped, "I'm sorry, Erik. I shouldn't have asked." She paused, "I understand why you hate him so much."

"This is it!" Charles called out, stopping in a patch of the forest where there were no trees and the leaves above them only let in thin rays of sunlight.