XMFC/Where's Scott?

[diecastking]

The fire is roaring in the grate, the drawing room an insulated haven from the chilly expanse of the mansion. Despite Hank and Alex's experiments with capturing Havok power, the old building remains draughty and difficult to warm.

However, Erik is perfectly content. He is sitting on the sofa, Charles sprawled across his lap in a position that would've been completely impossible only a few months ago. He rests his elbow on the arm of the sofa, a book of philosophy open but it's his lover who holds his attention, his hand softly caressing his hair.

Charles has never looked more content, more relaxed. The only sting in the tail is that Erik cannot feel his happiness, one step removed from the intimacy they once shared.

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[diecastking]

Erik nods, moving as swiftly as he can for the drug. He does not bring the chair, because he does not want his lover to change his mind - that he even fears the possibility shows how far he has let things slide. He knows Charles' relationship with the drug is unhealthy, but he had turned a blind eye for his happiness.

No more.

[guideshapelead]

Charles makes his way to the drawing room alone, the pain in his back kicking in as he reaches the sofa. He sits down with his head in his hands, grimacing at the pain, the tingling in his toes as the sensation leaves him.

[diecastking]

Erik returns with Hank's medicine, ready with the syringe.

He hates to see his lover in pain but they must find their son. "Here."

[guideshapelead]

Charles moves on autopilot as he injects the drug into his vein, frowning when it feels as though nothing has happened at all. His legs continue to ache and burn as they numb, the whispering in his mind continues to increase in volume...

and worst of all, the desperate need for the medication doesn't abate in the slightest. Desperate tears escape down his cheeks as he closes his eyes, slams his hands over his ears for good measure even though he knows the noise is all within his own head.

[diecastking]

Erik reaches for his fiancé, trying to hold him.

//Calm your mind// he thinks desperately in Charles' direction.

[guideshapelead]

Erik's mind, so close to his own, is deafening in Charles' mind.

"Be quiet..." he begs, hands tighter over his ears. "I can't... it's too much. Too loud..."

[diecastking]

Erik stopped, trying to bring his mind to a place of neutral strength, solid and smooth like a wall of marble.

"Charles. Focus on my voice."

[guideshapelead]

"Erik I can't do this..." Charles shakes his head, hands still firm over his ears, his body sagging into the sofa as the strength in his legs escapes him.

"Help me..."

[diecastking]

"Calm your mind," Erik insists, keeping his voice steady.

"Think of Scott. We need to find Scott."

[guideshapelead]

Charles struggles to think beyond his desperate need for the other medication. He can barely remember why he needs to find Scott.

With a gargantuan effort, he closes his eyes and tries desperately to control the screaming in his mind. //Scott?// he tries to remember how to seek out one mind in the crowd.

//Scott, where are you?//

[diecastking]

Scott puts down his dolls and peers out of his tree.

"Daddy?"

[guideshapelead]

Eyes screwed shut, forehead creased, Charles battles to cut through all the other noise to find his son's mind. He can feel it, quiet amongst the myriad of voices in his head, but he can feel it.

"He's alive..." he manages to croak out to Erik, redoubling his efforts.

//Scott, where are you? Think your answer, don't say it. Like we used to talk.//

[diecastking]

Erik holds onto Charles and waits, trying not to let his mind bubble over while Charles is concentrating.

Scott frowns at the voice, as he starts to notice a few figures in the distance and that it's darker than he expected.

//Outside. Playing soldiers//

[guideshapelead]

//Where outside, Scott? What can you see?// Charles asks, giving Erik a summary out loud.

//Can you come inside?//

[diecastking]

Erik wants to leap to his feet and marshal the others to search, but he must stay with Charles.

Scott clutches his dolls close to his chest and peers out of the tree. He doesn't really remember how he got up here and he can't see a way down in the dark.

//I can see the house. All the lights are on.// He squints into the darkness. //And I can see Banshee's targets all smashed up on the grass.//

[guideshapelead]

//Shout, Scott// Charles suggests as he passes on the location to Erik.

//Loudly, so people can hear you. Alex is looking for you, and Raven and Hank.//

[diecastking]

Scott does as he's told, shouting at the top of his lungs for his brother and his aunt and uncles.

It's Alex who comes running, staring up at the tree like he's seen a ghost. "And how the- how did you get up there?"

[guideshapelead]

Charles breaks away from Scott's mind once he knows he's been found, lying still on the sofa with one arm over his eyes.

"He's safe. I need the proper medication now."

[diecastking]

Erik stares down at him.

"Hank says this medication replaces the other. You cannot have both."

[guideshapelead]

"Then I want the first one back," Charles complains.

"I can't move my legs. The whole house is screaming in my head."

[diecastking]

"You cannot take another dose until this one wears off," Erik insists. If he had his way, Charles would never take it ever again.

"And you can control your powers, if you train again. You have controlled them for years."

[guideshapelead]

"Can I walk again if I train?" Charles snaps.

"I don't feel well." He feels hot and cold, as though he has a fever, though he had not been feeling ill half an hour previously. It's a reaction to the drugs, or lack thereof, he knows, rather than any sort of flu or temperature.

[diecastking]

Erik moves away. "I will fetch Hank. And then I will put our son to bed."

[guideshapelead]

"Don't leave me..." Charles begs as Erik moves away. It's like the beach all over again, the loss of sensation in his legs like the first time, leaving him terrified and vulnerable.

[diecastking]

"Charles, I must go to Scott." Erik hates to choose between his lover and his son, but he must do it tonight.

"I will be back as soon as I can. And I'm still right here." He reaches out to touch the side of Charles' head.