ONSLAUGHT

Billy swallowed down any visible sign of fear, his eyes still remaining a little wide as the professor was upset yet found his ability amusing. Maybe it was a bad idea to upset the guy who had some mind control going on but, he was hopeful that even under his defiance of the other’s intentions that he would not share the same fate as that one Sentinel Services’ agent. He was too young to be put six feet under.

Maybe, just maybe, he hoped that he could reason with Charles. “We don’t need to kill them.” He spoke boldly as he stared down the professor with iridescent blue eyes. They weren’t the Inner Circle. It should never be the first option to murder even if it was the easiest one. “Please. Leave them alone before things get worse.” He said with pleading eyes. He didn’t want to have to use his powers on Charles- or anyone for that matter. He didn’t want another John Kesler incident.

There were always these brief moments: moments where it felt like the slightest glimmer of the old Charles was trying to break through. The first had been after he left that alleyway, staring at the gun as he found himself some sort of permanent residence outside the Underground. And the second was here and now...when the boy spoke in only a way Charles would’ve had his current ailment not been in place and so MERCY suddenly became an option. If only for him to ignore the battle his mind would be sure to be going through, however long this lasted. 

“That’s no fun Billy...-” an exaggerated sigh escaped him. As he used his abilities to unfreeze them and tell them to leave. “But fine.” Charles added as he watched the mutants trickle away not that he suspected they wouldn’t come back. “They’ll be back however and that...GOD THAT WILL BE A PARTY.” He chuckled. 

          “You assume.” Hands at her sides, turning to look at the gentleman that was talking to you. “That I know what you’re talking about and I wouldn’t be pleased hearing about any Sentinel Service casualty.” Eyes going over the man, a frown creasing her face. “And you are?”

“Oh I never make assumptions...-” He added with barely a grin on his face, not how it usually sat because even in the darkness...well he could still feel a boiling rage and there was only ever one place to aim it but they didn’t seem to wish to play along and that was infuriating. “I don’t need to...though casualty doesn’t feel quite right...” Charles hummed in disapproval as he spent a moment trying to come up with the phrase or even word that felt better. “Genocide seems far more fitting, the destruction of a group from the bottom up.” He spoke more to himself. 

A girl is out of town for a few days and comes back to this - sounds about right. 

Ethan’s car was in the shop, so he had mostly been walking to and from work when he didn’t feel like taking an uber or asking his neighbor for a ride. He felt some type of energy ahead of him, but it wasn’t death energy, so he didn’t pay it too much mind. He sighed and too the back way towards his house. It was a definitely quicker, but even more sketchier. He came up on two people and thought they were just drug dealers….

That was until he saw the man frozen. “Oh shit.” He stated and looked at the man who already had his gaze on him - then turning to realize that the others were sentinel services causing him to huff. “If you unfreeze them I can just tell them to go away.” He hated that he steal had that connection with Sentinel Services even though he severed their ties months ago.

“You deem yourself important enough for them to listen?” an amused chuckle now passed the Professor’s lips, he’d accepted the darkness in what felt like a while ago...a week to be exact and all his RAGE...well that was aimed toward Sentinel Services and anyone that tried to defend them. Perhaps it spoke bounds that even in such a darkness, the man was aiming the brunt force of it all toward people that weren’t exactly undeserving but that didn’t mean he’d take likely to anyone coming along and trying to make out like they could stop them. 

He stepped toward the man, gaze filled with nothing but a pit of fire and rage...burning brighter than most things could. “He’ll die...and if you try to stop me, I will make you feel pain like you could never imagine.” 

The thing in front of him was giving off bad vibes and Billy wasn’t feeling it. The entire situation only spelled out trouble. Sentinel Service agents with guns, Charles speaking intimidatingly like some super villain, and the assumption that it was the other mutant keeping them in their place and preventing them from shooting. And then there was that devilish look on on the other’s face that covered him in goosebumps. “Charles, what do you-” mean. He couldn’t finish the sentence before the loud sound of a gun being fired filled the air and a body dropped to the ground.

Billy froze in fear and shock, trying to process what just happened. It was the first time he had seen someone get shot, to see all the blood spilling out of the body, but that wasn’t the scariest thing there. It was Charles that scared him more. “What the fuck.” He managed to find whatever voice he had left. He had to do something before the situation got worse. His eyes began to illuminate blue, blue energy flowing around his hands and to the guns of the operatives, he began to recite a spell the only way he knew how. “I WANT TO TURN THE GUNS INTO TOYS. GUNS INTO TOYS. GUNS INTO TOYS.” He repeated as he watched the metal material of the guns turn into plastic, the bullets turning into foam darts. It was working. 

It was such a strange thing; a week ago he apored violence...hated it with all of his being and yet now (because of the darkness), he could stand here and watch a war happen and not have the slightest care in the world....-it should’ve been more worrying but Charles didn’t exactly have it in him to care. All that took over his face was an expression of understanding and yet trying to understand at the same time, he couldn’t fathom why the boy didn’t feel the same as he did...seeing it as justice. But it didn’t matter, the only person that needed to see things in such a way was him. 

“Now, now...-” a loud chuckle passed, as he stepped forward to poke the weapons that were now about as useful as the men behind them. Turning his gaze back toward the boy, he gave another smirk. “That is an interesting gift...though i’m unsure whether to be upset or amused..-” he contemplated for a moment. “Perhaps both?” 

He knew. Erik probably could have guessed he did. Even after observing the professor for a few moments, he could tell that there was something off about the man. His replies seemed tired and his eyes lacked their usual luster. Was the jump forward in time really that jarring to him? When Erik had learned of his failures, he plotted new, better plans. Charles, however, seemed to be taking a different approach. 

Magneto took a few more steps toward him, closing the gap between them. It wasn’t like him to speak with his friend from a distance, especially when the conversation appeared to be important. “Never a fool, Charles,” He replied, knowing that the word may have slipped out of his mouth a few times when previously addressing him, but there was no truth behind it. Charles was not a fool. “It takes a man that has lived through the horrors of the world to see them…”

“Listening to the rantings of one and believing him without knowing the future seems like the more foolish thing to me,” He took a little dig at himself there if for no other reason than to try and pull Charles out of the dumps. 

There was a comfort that came with the closing of the gap between them, though he found himself suffocating for far different- and some would argue-better reason. He appreciated it for what it was because in some ways that certainly felt like all he was able to do; the best way the Professor could describe it, was that they often felt like two sides of a coin. One wanted to see peace & the other was certain that it would never happen...-it sometimes made Charles wonder how they ever managed to get along...if they would had they met under far different circumstances. However glad he was that they were indeed able to continue to do so.

“And now I see those horrors entirely..-” he shook his head, his gaze lingering on the other man as he spoke. “They’re killing us...imprisoning us. When I believed peace to be an option, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but I never imagined this.” It was easy for him to admit, even in offering the other man a smile due to his saying that he wasn’t a fool for his beliefs, perhaps because it was true; he hadn’t seen anything this bad happening...even if some people were always bound to hate the idea of equality. 

A small chuckle passed, more out of warmth than much else. “You and I both know, we each have our reasons for believing what we do...-we’re still good men in the end..” he added in his typical need to follow up such a statement, even if it had been said in an attempt to comfort him. “You’re still good...I don’t need to see in your head to know that.”

Erik was the last person to care if anyone from the Sentinel Services died, but knowing who was going to pull the trigger was chilling to him. Something was wrong with his old friend. All of those years of Charles arguing about the good in humanity… All of those years of Charles believing that anyone could change their ways… The scene before him was wrong.

“Charles,” Erik said to get the professor’s attention. His helmet was on protecting himself against the mutant’s ability and his hand was raised, controlling the weaponry that the men were aiming at him, “What are you doing?”

Two of the strongest mutants in one room, two of the most dangerous by the opinions of Sentinel Services...and yet now all these soldiers had become were victims.Because in the end this Charles...he wasn’t the one with some stupid amount of hope about redemption; if they aimed, he’d fire. Strange however that his old friend would come to question it. Did he not want to see them fall? He couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t. 

“My old friend...funny you should ask,” he chuckled, perhaps far more sinister than what was typical of the young Professor. Though with such a loaded amount of darkness set behind his eyes, it wasn’t like he was himself and in some ways he didn’t wish to be. “Long tiring story that always seems to end with them aiming their guns at me. So inevitably I took it upon myself to do the job I spent years in education to get; i’m going to teach them a lesson.” Granted it ended with a bullet through at least a few of them but if it got the point across...perfect. “Though if you’d like to take your shot, have at them.” He gestured, they were still frozen after all though he was well aware Erik didn’t need such a thing to take them out. 

“Charles?” Billy said in a low, quavering voice. He had heard most of what the other was saying, threatening to force the agent to pull the gun on one of his fellow coworkers. He was ashamed to admit it but, he was scared and confused. The amount of Sentinel Service men with guns against one mutant. The one mutant who couldn’t hold his alcohol the last time he saw the man. It surprised him to see what the other was truly capable of. “What are you doing?” He asked as he stood at a distance behind Charles with blue wisps of energy dancing around his hand, readying himself to fight. For some reason, Billy couldn’t move closer even if he wanted to.

Really must come up with a new name...he thought while indeed rolling his eyes at the notion, even as he was now it seemed insane to be called some melodramatic title. “Now, now...hello to you...good old Billy-bob.” His words and tone no more than a mock warmth that he was happy to create, looking from the SS men and over to the boy he’d seen but a week ago. “I’m a Professor Billy...I have PHD’s in more subjects than these...men could possibly wrap their minds around. So i’m teaching them a lesson about holding a gun and aiming it toward a mutant.” he added as if it should be obvious, only to press his focus back on the man who remained frozen still holding his gun high as if Charles happened to be in front of it. 

A smirk passed, devilish in nature. “Feel free to stick around...it’s going to be one hell of a ride.” He directed toward the boy as he used his powers to invade the operatives head and cause him to shoot one of his allies. Oh if he were himself now...this would’ve been torturous but too bad for them...he could barely bat an eyelid at what he’d just caused. 

An amused and yet sinister chuckle passed him...why was it that every time he came across Sentinel Services they seemingly decided to aim a gun toward him?...sure he’d virtually murdered two of them...but GOD HELP THEM if they believe it smart to continue with such a choice of weaponry...then again they were here standing before him; that made them the least smart people in the world as far as he was concerned. 

                 "ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴍᴀɴ ᴍᴜsᴛ ғᴀʟʟ..."

“You care for him.” That much was true but there seemed to be something else. He was in her head after all – which meant that it was her domain. She could feel something else. A sort of love that he probably wouldn’t admit if she simply asked him of it. Wanda was only able to pinpoint it because she knew that feeling well. Vision was in her thoughts again but this time it seemed like the sun was coming out and the darkness was slowly clearing. She wasn’t waking despite that. There was still a long way to go it seemed. “You yet know all that he’s done.” But she admired that dedication Charles seemed to have for Erik. Again it reminded her of Vision. Was this how he felt for her? Her eyes fell and her hands clenched tightly shut.

“I hope I don’t regret it, Charles.” she managed before she finally took a step forward.

Her hands itched and tingled, the knuckles white before she released them and red energy sparked. This time it came easier to grow the ball until it seemed like enough. The man might trust her but she had yet to fully trust herself. “I’ll find you. I’m sorry.” Wanda whispered before she flung the ball of energy toward the man with all of her might.

“I...-care for a lot of people.” Not untrue but no more than a deflection; he knew she could sense it no matter how deep he placed things or indeed how many doors he placed in front of it, this was her mind and if she wanted to see something she certainly could but that did not mean by any length that he was about to say it or speak it; Erik & Charles were friends. That was all they had ever been and all they could ever be. “Yes and I am sure one day, it will be my undoing.” because it was a weakness, to be unable to give up on people, to wish to pull them back from anything. Charles knew a time would come when that wouldn’t be so easy and then perhaps that would be how he meets his end. 

He passed a chuckle if only to make things a little more lighthearted, as if to take away from what was happening. “No regrets Wanda; it is my choice after all.”

Charles gave a nod, preparing himself for what was to come as the magic acted like a metaphorical tie: transferring all that was in her, into himself and he could feel it all. The pain alone caused him to drop to his knees, the mental version of himself was fading and an agony...a darkness he couldn’t explain seemed to be growing in its place. 

“It’s done, the link is breaking...-you’ll be able to wake now Wanda.” he offered in the softest voice he could muster. Soon enough he would be gone entirely. 

“I don’t know either.” His tone was tender and soft. More so then he wanted it to be. Here he was getting so emotional and butthurt over a man he didn’t even know the age of. What was wrong him? He could picture damn Lefty laughing at him and laying it true was a– WHAT WAS HE EVEN? A wuss? A coward? A dumbass who couldn’t handle being by himself in a unknown world? He was alone for so long he had no idea why it suddenly got so hard. “i…” He had been wrong, to yell at him. Blame him. “I know.” All of them were, honestly. 

His lips pressed together, trying to will himself to stay silent. Walk away walk away shut up and walk away. “Alex dies.” He began with and what a stupid thing to begin with… “He dies and you’re you. You’re there and you’re you even if you aren’t the you I know yet.” He struggled to find the right words. He felt himself shaking and damn it he didn’t want to shake, he wanted to be strong. BUT. “I don’t… there’s no one else here. That know me or will know me.” He paused, a brief moment of silence. He wondered if Charles saw the pain in his eyes through his ruby shades. “You’re it. You’re… you’re all that is– and I…” He didn’t know what to do. 

At those words he shut his eyes tightly, not that Charles would be able to see it. “There’s a lot of us.” He admitted. “Lot’s of people you help.” People you save. “You could look into my mind, I mean, if you want.” He offered, sheepishly. “Or I could try and tell you but I–” Am selfish and never paid attention, am a forgetful idiot, a jerk. “I… “ What was there to say? “I’ll try.” Stupid. 

A revelation, one that shouldn’t have been surprising when learning of his own death in the future but it felt that way; like some piercing wound because while Alex may have been no more than a friend, he felt like family and if he felt like this...then he could only imagine how the boy felt; losing his parents at a young age had been painful for Charles, to spend his years and not have them to turn to ...sometimes he could hear his mother's voice in his dreams...he could hear her singing and in the end that was all he had left of them. 

“I’m sorry...I know what it is to lose family, no one should have to go through that...not before it’s their time anyway.” People were meant to grow old and die, but somehow it often felt like anyone that touched their world, mutant, human or otherwise, always seemed to meet an end one way or another. The Professor had never felt so helpless, so with a need to know what he was...who he was and Scott had all the answers. 

He brought his fingers forward, resting them on the side of the boys temple. “If it becomes too much, all you have to do is tell me and I will stop.” Memories were an overwhelming thing because the mind often stored far more than we wished to recall. Charles was hesitant for a brief moment before he entered the boys mind, in search of answers though at first all that hit him was everything that had happened to Scott: the good, the bad, the painful. He saw himself eventually, the School. Hank & a red head he would come to know as Jean. He found answers and with them came a need to care; that was the moment he pulled himself out.

Wanda’s eyes crinkled before narrowing all together. Her heart raced in a different kind of way now. “My father was Magneto?” That’s something she definitely didn’t know but now she understood why he wouldn’t know of her or her brother. Her father was a mutant terrorist; and that killed her to think. “I’d say. He killed innocent people.” She had as well but hers had been a misguided attempt for her vengeance and she had been wrong. There had been one other incident but that truly was an accident. There had been no ill intent in her heart. “I knew him once.” she admitted before her eyes flashed to her feet. “Met him once at least.” And she had, had no idea whatsoever that she had been speaking to her biological father.

When learning he was in this time she looked up at Charles once more. “I will consider it.” More so she would ask Vision because while he loved her, he could also see the situation differently. Perhaps his judgment would be less clouded than her own. Did her want to meet him outweigh the anger she once held for the man known as Erik Lehnsherr? She would have to think.

Her eyes widened. She wasn’t sure how she knew it but she suspected that his solution to waking up would not be pleasant. “Is that a good idea, Charles?” 

It was true, evident even more so and perhaps if he truly thought about it he should feel like a fool for still having faith in the man...sometime he found himself wondering if he’d ever lose that. “Yes...but just because someone stumbles and loses their way...it does not mean they are lost forever.” he urged, because in the end condemning a person meant you had given up on them entirely and being who he was...(being the man that could not give up on anyone) well he hoped she would not give up on Erik before it was too late. 

It was all he could ask and he had done his part after all; the rest could only be her choice and her choice alone. “Consideration is far better than nothing at all.” He offered a simple smile, in some ways he had been glad she had not taken the offer to see what he saw because while he saw her father with nothing but the attention to all that had been good...he wasn’t sure his bias would be helpful. 

“I do not know...but it is the only option at this moment.” Charles added with a great degree of trust toward her. “I can handle what comes next and you need to wake. It’s the only way.”