XMFC/Adapt to survive

[diecastking]

Erik and Raven appear in the middle of the hall, holding hands with Azazel, Riptide and Angel.

//Charles// Erik renews their connection immediately. //Gather everyone in the drawing room. We have urgent news.//

Comments

[diecastking]

Erik considers. "Could you use me to aid you? Concentrate around my location?"

[guideshapelead]

"I'll try," Charles repeats. That is all he feels he can promise.

[diecastking]

Erik kisses Charles' cheek, before taking hold of Alex's and Azazel's hands, Sean and Raven joining the end of the chain.

[guideshapelead]

Charles lets Hank push him away, down beneath the school to where Cerebro awaits him.

His connection to Erik is weak, across such a distance, but he can still feel him in the back of his mind. He focusses on that as he puts on Cerebro's helmet, fixed on the location as Hank flicks the switch.

Of course, the mutants he senses at once are Erik and his companions, and he fights to look past them. There's nothing, and he's about to give up, temples pounding, when he sees it. There, beneath the earth, so faint the trace is almost completely hidden. But there it is. Another mutant.

He focuses long enough for Hank to get the coordinates, before pulling the helmet from his head, exhausted.

[diecastking]

They trek through the dense woodland to where Hank guides them, Alex marching ahead and the others struggling to keep up. Azazel cannot teleport where he does not know and nothing will stop Alex now he has his friend in sight.

"Havok," Erik begins.

"What? Why can't they keep up?"

"You know that he might not-"

"Charles says he's alive. He's alive, he'll know me."

"He's been...alone. For a long time."

"He'll be fine!" Alex insists and Erik doesn't have the heart to contradict him.

They reach the old bunker just before dusk. Erik holds Alex back and steps forward to break open the metal door, welded shut with Shaw's energy.

It splinters under the force of his power, coming away in parts. Alex is through the doorway before Erik can stop him, calling Darwin's name as loud as he can.

Erik stops Raven and Sean from following, before he takes one or two steps into the doorway. He sees Alex curled around something, lizard-like and dry as bone.

But slowly, slowly, Darwin returns to them, returns to Alex - and he helps him to his feet.

"Let's go home," Alex says, and Erik feels his heart might burst with joy for his son.

[guideshapelead]

Charles and Hank await them in the drawing room, Charles dozing on his sofa. But he is only resting his eyes, and he's awake and alert within seconds when the others return.

"Did you...?" he begins to ask, but his question is answered for him as he sees the young man leant against Alex.

[diecastking]

"He's not going to the lab," Alex states, like it's already decided. "He can rest in my room."

[guideshapelead]

"Alex..." Charles frowns. "He may need Hank's attention." Darwin looks to be standing purely thanks to the grip Alex has on him.

[diecastking]

"Hank can tend him in Alex's room," Erik says diplomatically. He doesn't think Alex will be letting go of Darwin any time soon.

[guideshapelead]

Charles still doesn't look convinced.

"Alright. But if Darwin wishes to stay with us, once he is recovered, he will of course have his own room here."

[diecastking]

"We'll stay in my room," Alex says, already helping Darwin towards the lift.

Erik gets the door. //Leave it for now// he warns his lover.

[guideshapelead]

//He needs Hank's attention// Charles frowns, though he keeps his complaints to himself.

//Look at him.//

[diecastking]

Erik nudges Hank's arm, and the scientist follows them, muttering about gathering his equipment.

"We need to find some new rooms," he says, trying to divert attention from Alex and Darwin.

[guideshapelead]

"How... how was he?" Charles asks, once Alex and Darwin are both safely out of earshot.

"Will he be okay, do you think?"

[diecastking]

"He was alone a long time," Erik says, shaking his head.

"He...adapted, but his mind..."

Erik shrugs. Only time would tell.

[guideshapelead]

Charles frowns, torn between knowing that Alex is the best person to look after Darwin, remembering how well they had gotten on before, and feeling that Darwin should be given his own rooms, his own space, right away.

"Let us hope," he says quietly.

[diecastking]

Erik places a kiss on his lover's forehead.

"You look tired. Rest, and I will look in on them."

[guideshapelead]

"Cerebro was hard work," Charles admits, knowing better than to lie, especially about his health.

"I could rest, for a little while."

[diecastking]

"For a little while," Erik agrees.

"I will check on Darwin and Alex."

[guideshapelead]

Charles lets Erik go, the others disperse to their own rooms or the rest of the house. He only means to close his eyes for a moment, but finding Darwin had been hard, even for a man of his abilities. He falls asleep almost instantly, and a good hour or so passes before he next wakes.

Cursing himself, he sends out an apology to Erik. //I was more tired than I realised, so sorry. Where are you? How's Darwin?//

[diecastking]

//Alex's room//

Though privately Erik has already started thinking of it as Alex and Darwin's room, considering the way Alex is leaning against the headboard with Darwin's head in his lap.

[guideshapelead]

//May I join you?// Charles doesn't want to intrude, if Darwin is sick or upset.

[diecastking]

Given that Sean, Raven and Hank are all occupying corners of the room, Erik doesn't think one more will hurt.

//Please. We're all here.//

[guideshapelead]

Charles makes his way up to Alex's room, knocking politely before coming in.

"How is he?" he asks, looking at the prone form on the bed.

[diecastking]

To everyone's surprise, Darwin shifts from his position in Alex's lap and clears his throat.

"Better," he rasps.