X-Men: The Gifted Ones

24. CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK CITY, NY

Charles enjoyed the quiet summer day at Central Park. He remembered coming out here often with Erik in the early days of his training school. He set up the chess pieces and waited for his friend to show up. He hoped Erik would. He figured Erik would have a hard time resisting an invitation to find out what Charles was up to. He hoped that Erik would be willing to help beyond the task he was about to ask of him. He sat and waited. How much had changed since he had last faced his friend across a chessboard!

Charles had not seen Erik in years. Last he had seen his friend, he was leaving the Cuban beach where Erik's deflected bullet had lodged into his spine, forever taking away the use of his legs, his chance at a family, and-he had thought-his chance at happiness. He had plunged into a deep depression, lamenting what he had lost. It was Jane who had pulled him from the brink. He had happiness, he was about to have a family, in a way. He didn't blame Erik. Erik would have stopped bullets for him. Could he ever refer to Erik as Magneto? It seemed such an odd name. So... inhuman.

Charles felt the presence of his old friend and looked up to see Erik walking up to table. He was every bit as immaculately-groomed as Charles remembered him.

"Charles, that was a most interesting invitation," Erik laughed as he sat down across from Charles.

"Yes, I know," Charles chuckled. "It was a bit unconventional. However, there is something I need to do and I need your help."

Erik was intrigued. "What can it be that the great Professor Charles Francis Xavier cannot do without me?"

Charles started to play chess, and Erik joined him. He thought of the many plans the two had formed over games of chess over the years. "My wife and I are starting a school for mutants..."

"A wife, Charles?" Erik asked, surprised.

"Yes," Charles replied. "I'm married now, believe it or not. Truth be told, at times even I can hardly believe it, but there it is. But yes, she and I have started a school, a regular school, where the children can be safe, protected. We've been visiting the families of these children to bring them to our school and there's one student left to speak to."

Erik's eyes lit up. "A school? How altruistic of you. How does this plan include me?"

"When I was using Cerebro to find students there was a girl whose psychic signature was so strong... stronger than any I've ever felt. She may very well be the strongest Class 5 ever known to us."

Erik raised his eyebrows. Was he hearing this correctly? "Class 5, you say?"

"Yes, I know. We'd only heard about it, read about it. I never imagined it'd exist on this level, or in one so young. She's likely more powerful than the two of us combined. We're only Class 4 mutants."

"Charles, you're the telepath, why can't you simply convince the child to come along to your school?"

He shook his head, "She is much too powerful to do that to, and it would be disrespectful. I have a feeling you will be the one who will convince her by using your... wit. And charm."

Erik laughed. "Charles, I thought you were the one who has his way with the ladies?"

"No, Erik. You have a way of speaking to people that appeals to their sense of... mischief. Almost a pride in their facetiousness. You will appeal to her vanity."

"Me? Appeal to her vanity?" Erik asked, surprised.

"Yes. She may try to read my thoughts and I would have to chide her on that," Charles explained. "You could perhaps appeal to her vanity by giving her a little praise for her abilities, and together we could balance it out a bit, convince her."

"So, it's to be a little good mutant, bad mutant then?"

"Yes. Erik, could you help me?"

Erik moved a knight on the board, "I always thought you disagreed with my ideas on mutant superiority, but I have to say, the idea of meeting this young girl is hard to resist."

Charles was elated. "I knew you would say yes!"

"On one condition," Erik stated. "I will help only if you promise to allow this extraordinary young girl to live up to her full abilities!"

"As long as it is safe for her, yes. She could become quite extraordinary. In fact, she could be the one who carries on our mission of mutants not only living peacefully, but also openly."

"I like the way your mind is working, Charles. But how do you know I won't try to twist her to my side? To my Brotherhood?"

Charles grew quiet. "I trust you, my old friend."

"What incentive have I given you to trust me?"

"Because I trained you, I know the real you."

"Do you now? And what if she decides to join me?"

He sighed. "I'll make a deal with you, Erik. You allow me to educate her, train her, at my school. Once she is trained, then she will have the choice to stay with me, go her own way, or join you, if that is what she wishes to do."

"With a deal like that," Erik grinned, "how can I refuse?"

"I knew you would help me on this!"

"Only because I would like to meet this young lady," Erik said, continuing the game. "Now, Charles, tell me about this wife of yours... is she a mutant, too?"

Charles laughed. "She is a kind woman, my friend. Please, tell me, how is my sister doing? Have you been looking after her?"

"Just as you asked," he acknowledged. "She's an extraordinary woman. I honestly don't know how I would live without her. She helps me keep the Brotherhood in line. Now this wife of yours..."

Charles laughed. "I see we won't get anywhere unless I tell you more, will I?"

Erik shook his head.

"Her name is Jane, she was a nurse in Vietnam."

"And what can she do?"

"She can... she can absorb pain."

"That all?"

"For now," Charles fibbed, not telling the whole truth. "She's only learning what she can do and how she can use it."

"I'm sure you're training her well?"

Charles shrugged, "Yes, you could say that. Have you been training?"

"What a leading question," Erik teased. "Don't you have Cerebro?"

"I'd rather ask you outright than try to sneak around, old friend. Don't we have too much respect for each other than to resort to subterfuge?"

"As you wish."

"Erik, have you been spying on me?"

Erik smirked a little.

"We should be past sneaking by now. We are on the same side, after all."

"Are we really? You still work with the humans."

"We live among them, Erik. That's how it has to be. It's a matter of how we choose to live among them."

"So you hide in plain sight?"

"Why not? We're people, too."

"But people hate you, Charles. Remember what they tried to do to us in Cuba when we saved them. Rather, you saved them. Why live among them? Why hide in plain sight?"

"I prefer it that way while you, old friend, seem to simply be hiding."

Erik stared at Charles, stunned.

"Checkmate," Charles grinned, ending the game.