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

[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.

[guideshapelead]

Charles can feel the pain and anguish in Darwin's mind, but he knows better than to comment on it. If the man would put up a brave face, then he will play along.

Moving closer to the bed, Charles offers him a smile. "It's good to have you back with us, Darwin."

[diecastking]

Alex presses a glass of water into Darwin's hand and he drinks eagerly, before passing it back.

"You found me," Darwin marvels, though Erik privately feels he has every right to be angry that they didn't find him sooner.

[guideshapelead]

Charles thinks along the same lines as Erik.

"My apologies that it has taken us so long. I'm afraid we all thought you hadn't survived Shaw's attack," Charles explains.

"We should have looked sooner," Alex frowns.

[diecastking]

"It's cool," Darwin says, putting a hand on Alex's knee. "I'm here, aren't I?"

It is far from that but Erik thinks it's time to give the young men some privacy.

"Darwin needs to rest," he prompts.

[guideshapelead]

"Yes," Charles agrees, though he is still not sure that Alex should have sole responsibility for the other man's recovery.

"Perhaps we should all let Darwin sleep, for a while."

[diecastking]

Raven, Hank and Sean all shuffle to the door - with Raven stopping to give their restored friend a brief hug.

Alex, however, shows no signs of leaving him room.

"Come on, Charles," Erik nudges.

[guideshapelead]

"He needs to rest, Alex," Charles says, pointedly, before letting Erik bustle him out of the room.

"Hank would be better suited for Darwin's bedside," he continues to push once out of earshot. "I appreciate Alex feels responsible, but he cannot sit there for days on end."

[diecastking]

"Since when have you let that logic stop you?" Erik says, chiding but amused. "Alex is just as stubborn."

[guideshapelead]

"I'm your fiancé," Charles points out. "And I am headmaster. I have a personal responsibility for everybody under this roof. Alex has no responsibility for Darwin."

[diecastking]

"I'm not sure he sees it that way," Erik remarks.

"Perhaps I should make dinner tonight?"

[guideshapelead]

"I would offer to help," Charles says politely, "but I imagine you'd rather I didn't."

He has the decency to look sheepish.

[diecastking]

"You can help Scott lay the table," Erik teases, already moving downstairs. "Alex will not forgive us ruining his kitchen."

[guideshapelead]

"I have only caused one fire since this school started!" Charles declares, thinking this a feat to be proud of despite the fact that nobody else has caused any fires at all whilst trying to cook themselves a meal.

"I think that's a major step forwards, personally."