Taming the Wild

Steel Is Forged Through Fire

"No. No, Erik, don't do this!" Charles was muttering, employing all his telepathic abilities to send the message to Erik, but he might as well be talking to a wall. Erik refused to respond, refused to give up his vengeance. Charles understood the emotion, of course -- hell, he even shared it! -- but he still just wanted to keep Erik safe. It was very important that Erik was safe! If anything happened to Erik-- he swallowed hard, his throat going dry -- if anything happened to Erik Charles would never be able to take it.

Charles tried to ignore his fears and concentrate on following Erik's mind instead.

His friend was currently headed to the South wing of the farmhouse. Charles couldn't get any readings from there -- as if there were no minds present there at all -- which was most unsettling. Erik was obviously looking for Shaw but Charles could not feel Shaw anywhere in the building. Unless... Oh. Shaw still had that ability to block Charles. In that case little help would Charles be without his telepathy.

A quick mental scan allowed him to locate Raven, the kids and the mutants. It was strange how no humans could be detected in this place at all. As if Shaw only surrounded himself with mutants who were helping him experiment on other mutants. It was sick. But Charles was pleased to see that the prisoners of this horrible camp were now being released, finally! Wanda and Peter were bravely helping Raven with letting these poor souls escape. Luckily the kids were safe with Raven.

More of Shaw's people were alarmed about the unusual activity so Charles sent Raven a quick mental warning to let her know to defend herself. For a moment he felt torn between following Erik or returning back to Raven. But as he observed his sister fight he realized something - Raven was no longer his Raven ; she was Mystique now and she was handling her fights better than he ever could. It brought strange feelings in his heart but he was so proud of her at that moment.

So helping Erik it was.

~*~

Erik was threading carefully, as quietly as he could. Suddenly he felt a presence behind himself. He turned around abruptly, pinning the man that was following him to the wall, hard. Their eyes met, breaths mixed, chests raising and falling in harmony. It was Charles.

Erik swallowed and after a few seconds, his grip softened and he let his friend go.

"I thought you were an attacker..." Erik said dumbly, staring at his hands as if seeing them for the first time.

"It's fine." Charles said quickly, his voice sounding a bit too squeaky which caused the smaller man to grimace and clear his throat. "Erik, please, let's just go, let's leave this place!" he pleaded.

"Charles..." Erik said with a heavy heart. "I'm sorry but I have to do this."

"But Erik, Peter and Wanda, they're waiting ou--"

"I'm doing this for them!" Erik interrupted.

"No, Erik, they're--" he froze.

"Charles?"

"Erik... someone's approaching. I can sense them."

"Shaw?"

Charles shook his head. "It's not Shaw. I can't feel Shaw anywhere. It must be that damn hat of his! It's blocking me."

"Then I'll get rid of his hat and then I'll get rid of him." Erik said, his voice sounding rasp.

Charles let out an exasperated sigh. "Erik, no. Why won't you listen to me?"

But Erik was already headed to wherever he imagined Shaw was right now. All Charles could do was follow.

~*~