Flickers (Charles Xavier)

Chapter 36

The journey from Cairo back to Westchester had taken its time, but it still didn't feel like long enough when they approached the grounds of the destroyed building.

At the airport, they'd had a chance to get somewhat clean and buy some new clothes. They looked somewhat presentable, and while Raven had been able to change her appearance for the flight, Hank and Kurt had stood out quite uncomfortably.

While on the flight, Hank had told Iris and Charles about the explosion at the school.

"Alex tried to stop you guys from being taken," Hank's voice was low, "But the beam he shot out... it hit the warplane and the whole school exploded. Peter here saved almost everyone, but... Alex."

Iris felt her eyes sting, and beside her Charles' breath hitched in his throat. Blindly, Iris reached out and covered Charles' hand with her own.

"Alex was the best of us," Charles murmured, and his eyes sought out Scott on the other side of the aeroplane, "His death won't have been in vain."

Now, as they looked at the devastation left behind where the mansion had once been, Iris felt a strange emptiness overcome her. It had been her home for so long, and now it was gone.

"We'll rebuild it." Erik's voice was firm, startling them all, "With my abilities, and Jean's telekinesis, we can rebuild it."

He paused and looked at Jean, "If you're ready, of course."

Iris studied Jean closely, but she simply flexed her fingers and smiled, "Well, we do need somewhere to live."

Iris wondered if Jean's skin was still thrumming with heat like hers was.

"We can all help," Iris spoke up, "Ororo, Scott, Kurt – you guys can help, right?"

The three young mutants glanced at each other before nodding in agreement. Iris was happy to see that Ororo was starting to relax around them, and making friends with the other students.

When they'd landed in New York, Moira had returned home to her son, and Raven had taken Peter to the hospital to get his leg seen to. Iris really hoped that Raven would return to them, for Charles' sake.

At the thought of Charles, she glanced over at him and saw he was sitting with his eyes closed. She knew that he was still in pain, still hearing too many voices. She reached out and brushed his shoulder gently.

"Hey, why don't you and Hank sit together somewhere in the woods? Away from everyone else? I'll join you guys in a while."

Charles opened his eyes and smiled at her. He touched her hand resting on his shoulder, and when he felt the heat of her skin, he frowned in concern.

"I'm fine," She smiled, not quite meeting his gaze.

Hank and Charles made their way over to the wooded area away from the school, and the other mutants got to work. Iris was hesitant to use her powers, feeling as though she might burst into flames if she tried.

When she glanced up, she saw Erik watching her. He reached out and touched her shoulder, "You don't need to be afraid, Iris. You used your full strength in Cairo when you and Jean fought together. A task like this isn't something to be afraid of."

She inhaled deeply and nodded, knowing he was right. After a pause, she closed her eyes and created the materials that Erik described to her that they'd need to build the school. It took a while as there was so much that they needed, but when she finally opened her eyes again she was pleased to see it had worked.

Erik and Jean were to move the materials to begin building the foundations. Ororo could produce winds strong enough to lift things as well. Kurt teleported back and forth, moving things where they needed to be. If anything needed welding together, Scott helped too.