The awesome Cherik WIP that you’re not reading yet is The House on Graymalkin Lane by @runawaymarbles . T-rated, 15 chapters posted with 3 to go (regular updates), and good writing that checks all the boxes: layered plot, clever dialogue, character development and funny. The reason you’re not reading it is because two OCs are the main characters. But *these* OCs deserve better. Cherikland does not have enough teenage girls, and Ashe and Lia are fabulous, well-written characters. Lia’s mutation is completely original, one I’ve never seen before, and fits tightly into the plot the way things do in good writing. Ashe is baseline and trying hard to be the friend Lia needs, with too much guilt about how much she enjoys gossip and general nosiness. I love these girls! Old Cherik from the POV of teenage girls!! How can you resist?!
Charles hadn’t heard them coming.
At any other point in his life, it would have been easy. Nearly a hundred minds, intent on his school, his house, on his friends and children. But now, they only come into focus when they reach the gates, and it’s going to be too late, too late—
He sends out a warning to the others. Storm and Logan are up instantly— oh, Logan never went to sleep: Charles catches a glimpse of the television before moving on, looking for the rest of the X-Men. But there is no rest of the X-Men. Just Kitty, Marie, Bobby and Warren and it’s so hard not to think of them as children— it’s hard to think at all, because there are so many minds and all they want is—
GET THE STUDENTS OUT, he projects, with none of his usual finesse. TUNNELS, CARS, RUN—
The door to his room opens and for a moment he expects guns, but it’s Storm. In her pajamas, with lightning dancing around her fingertips. “Come on.”
Charles hasn’t even left his bed. “The children.”
“We’re working on it. Logan and I will hold them off—”
NO. He doesn’t know if he says it aloud. “There’s too many, they’ll capture him, Logan needs to protect—” protect the children, Raven and Alex and Darwin and Sean and Angel— no, they’re all long gone and never children— Charles needs to keep it together—
“Hey. Hey. Professor.” Storm grabs his hand. Shocks him a little, but she doesn’t mean to. “Keep it together, okay?” Keep it together. That was her thought, not his.
“You’re not strong enough yet.”
He’s not. He’s only six months un-dissolved, and he’s been trying to straighten out his mind. Trying to get anywhere near where he was when Jean— little Jeanie Grey— tore him apart. But he doesn’t have time anymore.
He and Erik will protect the children.
Erik can barely lift a bucket these days, and anyway, he’s… he’s somewhere else.
“We don’t have any other options.” He thinks he sounds calm when he says it. “I’ll go to Cerebro and slow them down, and then I’ll follow you. Don’t worry. They won’t be able to reach me down there.” They’ll be able to reach him everywhere, he will be everywhere, but he will be able to get them too and that’s what matters right now.
Storm hesitates. But she’s practical, and she knows what’s important. Maybe that’s why she’s the only one left.