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Charles Xavier X Erik Lehnsherr: Fanfic Teaser
Summary: Erik conjures up a plan to get what he wants: A steady flow of influence into the government he wishes to topple and an opportunity to lure Charles back into his arms. Erik will do anything to get Charles back at his side. Charles will do anything to feel loved again.
─✰ Rated: Mature
─✰ Content Warning: Emotional abuse, love bombing Grooming, Non consensual touching, internalized ableism
Contains: Possessive! Erik, School Teacher! Charles, cannon divergence but not AU post beach divorce reconciling
─✰ Word Count: 2k+
AN: Little teaser trailer bc this fic it is getting a couple of updates soon. Note that the story is pre XMA but around the same time period. Enjoy!
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Magneto stands at the steps of The Mansion in full uniform and helmet, trying not to feel ridiculous. Magneto didn't show much in the light of day. Not since DC. The deep magenta was supposed to blend him into the shadow but amongst the light grass and marble fountains, all it did was draw attention. Mutant children gather a ways away to observe him, curious but not daring to come close. A few teachers slip from the front entrance, casting expressions ranging from worry, to surprise, to resentment. He tries not to imagine how he must look at them. Finally, Hank in his beast form opens the school to him properly, standing to the side of the doorway in silent invitation. Erik straightens his back and raises himself up the step by the metal in his suit. The children gasp at the display. Hopefully, he thinks, all they see now is power.
The steel soles of Magneto’s boots click against the marble halls of the school. A clear path through the busy hallways starts to form quickly as they make their way to The Professor's office.. Erik feels a swell of anger grow inside himself as he observes the number of students. So many children with a need for a home means dozens of parents who are incapable and unworthy of such mighty youth. He breathes in and tries to calm the fury. How grateful they all must be for a home amongst their kind, he reminds himself, and how fortunate the brotherhood will be to have them when they grow. Erik’s eagerness to begin returns and his stride behind Hank quickens.
At Charles' office, Hank turns to him for the first time since letting him in. Though, he looks upon Erik from the corner of his eye, head tilted down and posture guarded. Erik was a bit saddening to see that underneath all the wild fur, teeth and claws, Hank was still the same timid young man.
Hank then dashed towards him, taking the front of Erik’s shirt in his paw.
“I will be right outside this door.” Beast snarled. “If you try anything, if you move too quickly or breathe too hard, I’ll tear you apart and rip that cape off your corpse.”
The air from Hank’s growl fills the opening of his helmet. His pupils are pins as he lifts Magneto an inch or two off the ground. There is a moment of stand still when Magneto debates bursting a pipe to avoid being mauled when Beast drops him. Hank huffs while fixing his glasses then raps lightly on the door, calmed again.
“Come in!” Charles calls from inside knocking Erik out of his shock. Magneto smoothes out his front again and goes to enter, bumping into Hank as he does for good measure. Erik for once is glad to be proven wrong but truce or not, Magneto will not be threatened
Charles is sitting behind his big, mahogany desk with his hands crossed over his burgundy notebook. He had kept his hair long, Erik notes. It was a little past his collar bones at this point which peeks out from under his lilac shirt. He saw the bit of bulk that had built in his arms that wasn't noticeable under the usual suits he wore and along with it, the way his face had slimmed down. He noticed the faint cracks and wrinkles around Charles' eyes that were just as bright and blue as he remembers. As Charles comes from behind the desk with a polite smile and an outstretched hand, he notes the color polish on his fingernails and fading children marker scribbles on his arms. Bracelets shift over old scars on his wrist. Erik tries not to stare at the chair while still picking out the stickers and charms that adorned it.
Erik’s heart almost stops when seeing Charles this close after all these years. The guilt he’s set aside of what he is about to do threatens to stop him but he persists despite it.
“Charles,” Erik greets him. He takes the man’s hand, not quite shaking it but holding it gently in his own. “The years have been kind to you, old friend.”
“How sweet of you.” Charles responds with a quiet breath of surprise. “Have a seat, please. I had tea prepared.”
“No chess? You know, we do have our best conversations over games.” Erik grins.
“It’ll be all work, no play today, I'm afraid.” Charles chuckles lightly and the sound pulls something forward in Erik.
“Hank, I think I can handle things from here. I believe there is a matter that calls for your attention downstairs?” He asks politely, turning back to the doctor.
“Downstairs?” Hank responds, shifting.
“Prefects in the labs.” Charles half whispers.
Hank looks between Erik and the door with confliction.
“We’ll be fine.” Charles reassures him warmly.
“Well…If you need anything…” The “If Magneto starts something” is implied.
“I’ll call for you.” Charles finishes for him, wiggling his fingers by his temple. “Go before something blows up. Again.”
Hank hurries from the office muttering about changing passwords. Charles calls for him to shut the office door and Hank is sure to slam it behind himself. Charles sighs, looking extremely tired for half a second, before turning back to Erik and motioning towards the couch.
“Trouble in paradise?” Erik asks lightly as he makes his way over to it.
“I’m sorry about Hank. He’s a good lad and he’s still…adjusting to himself; I try not to take it personally.” Charles rationalizes, rolling over as well.
“I’m pleased to see Hank showing more confidence. He’s protecting what is his; I take no offense to it.”
“Thank you. That’s very mature of you.”
“But now me, were you bluffing about the lab?”
“There is a training room next to the lab some of the children have been sneaking into. I’ve been electing to not tell Hank while they have their fun but I don’t think we’d be able to accomplish much today with his hovering. And, just so happen, one of the children can spawn an indestructible suit of armor that is very insistent on testing at this moment.”
“A happy coincidence and a suit of armor, how useful.”
“I know what you’re thinking; He’s far too young for the team.”
Charles gave Erik a strange look, his head tilted slightly with his smile faltering.
“Just a bit of curiosity; perfectly healthy as long as we keep an eye on him. He can forget his friends aren’t as indestructible.” He continued, recovering quickly while ignoring Erik’s comment.
“How old is the youngest on the team?” Erik presses.
“No younger than anyone on the first team.”
Erik hums and crosses his arms.
“We didn’t exactly disband under the best of circumstances. I’ve always wondered why you choose to start this-“ Erik gestured to the school. “Up again?”
“Their unofficial first mission was earlier last year after an incident in the mansion–. Charles starts to say.
“I heard. An explosion, wasn’t it?” Comments Erik, interrupting.
“An accident.” Charles defends. “WIth Alex and an intruder. And a generator in Hank’s lab.” He shakes his head at the memory. “We lost the left wing but no one was hurt, thank goodness; Peter, the boy from The Pentagon, was able to get everyone out in time.
“I heard the government got involved.”
“Yes, some of the teachers and students were taken in.
“You should have called.” Erik says, disappointed.
“I was a bit...indisposed.” Charles answers vaguely. He pushes a bit of hair from his face and Erik catches sight of a scar he didn't remember Charles having. “Besides, they didn’t need much help. They rescued me and the others all by themselves. They even found Logan, if you’ll believe it!” The proud gleam on Charles’ face reminded Erik of their early days. The way he looked simultaneously surprised and faith fulfilled while also showing a twinge of foreboding that darkened his features.
“There was no stopping them after that, I'm afraid. I think they’ve developed a taste for the action. Plus they have my bleeding heart.” Charles laughed again but Erik could tell his heart wasn't in it. “Raven thinks it's better this way. It's protection. For them and us.”
“Since when do you listen to what Raven has to say?” Erik means it as a joke but he thinks Charles doesn't take it that way.
“A lot has changed since you've left, Erik.”
The sentence makes Erik shiver. He isn't sure if it's from the chills of regret or because Charles has finally said his name.
Erik stands from the couch to compose himself and allows himself a look around the room. More so than checking the exits but really taking things in. The walls are as pale as the rest of the building but near its bottom is crayon and stickers similar to the ones on Charles. He has photos tacked to the walls next to his degrees with frames dusted in glitters. The desk was equally lived in with more frames, photos, books and half graded tests. Erik picks up the oldest frame there containing a photo of Charles and Raven as children. Both were smiling big in a faded polaroid with Raven in her true form.
“I've always said you'd be sitting ducks here. That they would be watching for weakness and come for you and your children.” Erik absently runs his fingers over the corners of the frames.
“I feel a great swell of pity for anyone who comes to my school looking for trouble.” His smile is completely gone now. He leans forward in his chair and gives Erik a stern warning of a look.
Erik smirks and sets the photo down.
“Still. I can't help appreciating what's been done here. I can tell your children find pride in this place. Curious children are children without fear. That's how it should be.”
“I agree.” Charles says, stunned.
Erik comes back over to the couch and sits close to Charles. Their knees almost graze.
“Young people like that will seek out trouble just as we did. Better aim them at a common enemy then have them picking every battle that crosses their path.” He sets a gentle hand on Charles' knee in approval.
“Erik,” Erik sighs softly in response to his name, tilting his head slightly towards Charles. “It's great we’re seeing things eye to eye for once but I doubt you set this meeting to catch up. Your letter- it was quite brief- what is this all about?”
Erik just looks at him from under the edge of the helmet. Its shadows make his face unreadable and his mind remaining a frustratingly muffled hum. All Charles could see was the metallic-like shine in Erik’s eyes and toothy smile.
“Erik?” Charles tries again.
“There this way you say my name, i can’t quite place it.” muses Erik, not quite responding to him.
“You say it with such ease despite…everything. I’ve missed it. I-” Erik clears his throat. “I miss you, my old friend. That's what this is about.”
“Erik, I told you, today won't be about games.”
“I’m not the joking type.” He says sincerely. “I'm tired of fighting you, Charles. I’m done so much yet with so little movement. I see what you accomplished, I see the small piece of the world you've carved out for our children and how you let your dream spread out. You could convince anyone to believe. I need that. I need you to make our dream a reality.”
“And what dream is that, Erik?”
“Mutant children, mutant families. Our brothers and sisters, free from discrimination and fear.”
Erik leans forward and takes Charles’ hands in his.
“I know you don't think we want the same thing but we do. We always have.”
Charles' eyes puddle with tears that threaten to spill over. He has a pinched look that stretches his lips thin and wrinkles his chin.
“I will not go through this with you again. I will not be a part of your massacre.”
“Not a massacre. Not anymore. A shift in opinion could save us all.I understand that now.”
“I don’t trust you.” Charles whispers to him like scared to say it out loud. “That’s never been your way.”
And there it is. The real hurdle he must jump to further his plans. Erik tries to let emotion show in his face. The hurt and regret. He looks inside the dark parts of Magneto and tries to be the man Charles remembers him to be. A young man stricken with tragedy who fell into violence because it is all he’s known.
“It could be!” He pleads back. “And I’ll prove it.”
With a swift flick of his powers, removed the helmet. The solid metal easily comes apart, falling in halves on either side of them and crashing against the floor.
Erik isn’t sure if Charles jumps because of the noise or the sudden wave of emotion from Erik’s usually concealed mind but he persists nonetheless. He calls on the memories of his mother, of the war, of killing Shaw and the burning dissatisfaction that followed, of losing Charles, of their fight on the plane and his failed apology, of needing to shoot raven and hesitating, of the brotherhood and all the responsibilities that now lay upon him to make good of his promise for a better world. He screamed his regret and fear into Charles’ mind and when he didn't have any more memories to give, he let the longing take over. The dull ache of loneliness that lives in his chest laid bare.
“I won’t hide from you, Not anymore. Help me, Charles. Help me make something good of this.” Erik knows Charles will have bruises tomorrow from how hard he’s gripping him. He sees the way Charles blinks rapidly and winces in pain, futilely trying to tug himself free, then grabs him tighter. “Help me make something good of me.”
“We can solve this but you have to calm your mind!”
“I must've forgotten how to silence my thoughts. I’ve been wearing this helmet for so long. If I could feel you in my mind, I would never be able to leave.” Erik seamlessly wrapped his lie in a truth.
He remembers the way Charles would settle in his back mind; not prying but a presence similar to a telepathic hand of the shoulder. It was calming, reassuring, comforting, forgiving- all the things Erik needed to stay and all the things he gave up to leave.
The picture of Charles’ pain filled eyes, pleading yet disapproving, haunts him. He thought about the beach again. Erik knew Charles was probably telepathically screaming for Erik to change his mind. The usual light wash from his powers would have been like waves crashing on the shore,
Charles looks at him with the same eyes now. Erik knows Charles is watching these memories right alongside him. He hopes he can see how beautiful he remembers him being. Even at his worst moments, Charles shines like the sun over sea water.
“This is all too much!” Charles cries while shaking his head. Erik is so close now he can feel the other’s hair hitting his face as it moves.
“I’ve always been too much and you loved me anyways. You saw the good in me when no one else did!”
Charles’ eyes were becoming blurry and unclear. Erik could see him trying and failing to collect himself.
“Why now, Erik? Why come here now?”
Erik knew this was the moment of truth. He wouldn’t be able to lie to Charles. He knows his true intentions were lying just under the surface. So, instead of answering, he crashes their faces together while gripping either side of Charles' head. Erik doesn’t know if the noises from Charles are that of protest or pleasure but still takes the opportunity to shove his tongue in.
Charles grips the front of his suit, stuck between pushing him away and pulling him in. Erik pulls away just as Charles relaxes into him. Tears flow freely from Charles unfocused, half lidded eyes. His lips hang open, pink and swollen with a string of spit connecting them to Erik’s. He sobs quietly, breath rushed and heavy but he’s still holding Erik close to him.
“Perfect.” Erik thinks as he dives back in.
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Link to the full fic! Updates coming in as often as I can ! (´･ ᵕ･)づ♡
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