Next Stage of Human Evolution

Daken paused a bit before answering. He was never overly concerned with his status as a mutant, finding that people usually judged him on his race and sexuality before his superpowers. “Yeah fuck humans. Never liked ‘em.” Daken shook his head.

“I’m not much of a team player. Other people just hold me back.” Daken replied, steadying himself as he stood up, “Though, I am willing to hear offers.” Daken winked, hoping that he looked somewhat better than he felt. Which could be described as ‘woke up in a puddle and expelled the entire contents of his stomach in an alley’. “Well Bobby stabbed me in the chest, so we have a bit of beef.”

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Erik looked at the other as he spoke, it was often he found mutants that fit more along with his style of thinking. “You say that and I oddly believe it, you know the true pain they can be about every little thing.

“I see yet you are here looking for me? Paint me curious as to someone who doesn’t want to be part of a team yet knows of the team I run.” Erik replied looking at the other for a moment nodding his head “well Bobby is something of a person who doesn’t handle anger well, you have your father’s accelerated healing then?”

Ever since Erik had left his life, Charles had been celebrating Hanukkah as it made him feel closer to Erik - not to mention when he re-opened his school a lot of his students are observant to the Jewish faith and Charles honours it with them all, proudly and never for them to be ashamed of it. Though he knew it maybe hard for Erik to be around, letting him have the time during all of this period. “Oh, are you asking for more teaching privileges? as that can be arranged, darling. Maths?” He’s partly serious and joking, stroking his fingers lightly over the crest of the puppy’s chest when Erik spun around to face him. “He doesn’t look like he’s seen a dog before…” He teased to Erik but was musing it to the puppy whom now looked up at Charles before licking the side of his cheek wanting to get to Erik. “Thank you. I have a cat here whom doesn’t mind as long as he gets cream on a weekly bases.” He smiled, watching Erik circling and coming straight for the pair like a shark on the attack, wary and graceful. “What I mean this beautiful, little girl here is yours, she’s fond of you, no?” He said, meeting Erik’s gaze as the puppy licked over his knuckles once she had sniffed him. “She came a bit later then I expected, she was supposed to be a gift for our anniversary but here we are today instead.” He mused in a slight rumble. Please, take your puppy off my lap. She’s starting to think you don’t like her. He projected into their shared link, trying to reassure the puppy that everything was okay. 

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Erik found it strange each time this year rolled around he wasn’t so much that he hated the holidays it’s just he mostly never found the same love to them until Charles had asked to celebrate with him and the very holiday had taken a turn back into the moments he shared with his mother as a child.  “Keep it up darling and you’ll find all these kids learn from me during algebra is a proper fighting technique” He replied back looking at the other as he was unsure of what a puppy was even doing their home given the other’s love of felines. “Very funny what is the creature doing here Charles? Nix barely allows anyone else to take your attention and now you have a dog on your lap.” He mused before rolling his eyes “of course you given a free pass and cream to make him like you more than me” He mused before allowing the other to softly lick his hand in happiness he’d never owned a pet…the last time something like that came up it was with Nina and her deep love of animals. “Is she really mine?” he questioned before moving to take the little thing from the other’s lap allowing it to lick his cheek in excitement at being with the person she’d wanted. Of course, I like her, I just…never owed a pet before Charles you know that… he shared back through their link petting the darling girl within his arms.

“I wouldn’t say fan. I admire the entire villain-y angle of it all The drama.” Daken explained. He was pretty sure he’d never even seen a television in person until he was in his 40s, but there wasn’t much of a point in correcting him. 

“Not on the best of terms. You can understand a fraught child and father relationship.” Daken said vaguely, staring directly at Erik. It probably wasn’t smart to make fun of one of the most powerful mutants around to his face, but Daken liked playing with fire. “Also, i’m not a child, nor do I play well with other X-Men. Got an icicle through the heart last time I tried to pay them a friendly visit.”

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“Good I don’t do well with fans, though the villainy angle isn’t something one set out to prove, Mutants have rights and the humans were denying those rights.” Erik replied honestly that’s why he’d taken to fighting back and the creation of the Brotherhood.

“I can understand that many people aren’t able to fit the fatherly role, yes” He replied looking at the other for a moment as he spoke, smirking slightly “So not so much team X-Men? I take it you are possibly interested in the Brotherhood instead? Yes well, they can be quite protective over certain things especially Bobby” He replied.

Unearthed memories embraced and faded out, all in the same as that’s what memories do. When he done that for Erik, those memories have always stayed in Charles’ mind and he doesn’t doubt for a second that it is the same for Erik. Sometimes he hopes that Erik looks back on those memories fondly even if it brings about the pain of his loss, of their loss and somewhere in all that pain healing can take hold of him - understanding the circumstances are vastly different for Erik and what he experienced that Charles holds doubts that he’ll ever able to practice again. Beaming up and across to Erik, hand still firmly on the pup’s chest to keep it from jumping and possibly hurting itself. “Oh, they have come accustom to you, haven’t they?” He mused, chuckling at Erik freezing mid-step. “You alright, love? You look a wee bit confused as if you’ve never seen a dog before.” Charles teased the other ever so lightly. The telepathy’s thumb stroking over fur of the pup whom was becoming more excitable by the second, intently watching Erik as if the pup has known Erik all his life because in a sense it has, from when Pietro picked out the dog and Charles imprinted Erik over it’s mind to make the bonding process easier. “Well, this is your dog, silly.” He said, not being able to move due to the puppy wiggling about wanting to greet Erik or run about the patio, Charles couldn’t really tell.

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Erik hardly celebrated anything lately outside of what little Christmas tidings that the Students tended to take part in. He found that without his family he lacked the will or even the mental abilities to practice Hanukkah but he knew Charles would do it with him if he asked but he really didn’t feel the need too. “That they have, maybe it's the fact I am a teacher here with the most free time” He chuckled before taking in the little pup within Charles’s arms, he knew his lover had a soft spot for animals and children but this didn’t look like any stray he’d seen before. “I’ve seen a dog before Charles, just never on your lap going mildly crazy, you do know you have cats here right?” He mused taking a step closer pulling his gaze from the dog back to Charles “What do you mean this is mine?” He mused looking at the excited dog again moving his hand closer to the Dog to allow him to sniff his hand. He’d never had a pet before not for lack of disinterest but he knew his life couldn’t support the love of an animal and when he had Nina, she talked to a plethora of animals that they never worried about getting her one.

“I know a lot of things. A man does his research.” Daken shrugged. t was an essential part of his training to know the weaknesses of any enemy he might happen to come across. Would be a complete waste of time to spend the first few minutes of the fight trying to figure out your enemy. Just have them figured out in advance. And Magneto was a strong contender against people with metal grafted to their bones, of which, Daken was not one.

“I’ve been knocked around. I’m no delicate flower.” Daken said, tightening the blanket around his shoulders. He still felt pretty shaken up from the ordeal, complete resurrection never felt nice, but he didn’t feel like he was on the brink of death anymore. “Come on, you can’t see the family resemblance? Shocked.”

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“So you’ve seen me on TV before, Great another crazed fan, To answer your question yes my powers can be weaponized in that way, but I’ve never been quite good at following orders.” Erik replied, looking at the other thing about him seemed to give him the feeling that he was here for a reason he just didn’t know if he wanted to be part of it just yet.

“Yes the manly blanket around your shoulders is quite the testament to that” he replied before smirking softly “Logan went out and had a child what a wonderful thing, why don’t you go get your daddy and we can play catch up while you play with the kids of the Manor?” He mused to the other.

Charles has always had an obsession with Erik’s mind, it’s vividly coloured and organised methodically so. Not to mention that Erik after the first initial stay out of my head never said it out loud again more welcomed Charles in though the only times he doesn’t is when he puts that fucking helmet on - not really material more Erik placing his shield up. Crafting a steel skull hence Charles referring to the fucking helmet all the time.  Not the point, he’d been without his helmet for so long that Charles had pretty much set up a home within Erik’s mind and with him in a slumbered state he had to check his vitals through his mind. “This is not the green light for you to bring out that bloody helmet, I’ll kick right off.” He said, teasingly warned. Continuing with his soft touches and caresses over his lover’s face, they had a lot of making up to do for all the time lost between their values. Charles bashfully chuckled down at Erik, it was one thing that never dents is his stubbornness. Pressing his lips on the back of Erik’s bronzen hair, leaning in the linger before sitting back. “You’re stubbornness will out live us all,” Charles teased, sweeping hair off Erik’s forehead. Allay effort from Charles’ from the years of using his chair does build muscles, the flexing around Erik’s upper torso and relaxing in the same motion of releasing the other. “I don’t act like a schoolgirl with a crush on you, no idea where you get that from.” He chuckled at himself. Charles softly nodded his head at him, hearing Erik’s tongue’s tip behind his front teeth - always when he spoke his mother tongue, he’d feel it go through his body and curl his toe slightly. “No, I much prefer to hear you say it again.” He teased, instant his cheek heating up where Erik’s lips left a kiss for later on. “Du schenkst mir jedes Mal Schmetterlinge, wenn du mich Liebling nennst.”

He lightly nudged against Erik’s shoulder when he spoke praise towards, Charles cooking before even tasting it as it meant a lot to the telepath - food was one of his love language, something he had to learn on his own accords. “Please enjoy, my love.” He hummed softly, Charles did’t look over at the tray reaching over instead for Erik’s coffee to give to him. However, the mug almost slipped from Charles’ hands when he felt the other’s lips against his own and though it was a short kiss it didn’t lack in sweet passion. “Mmm, as do I. Your lips are becoming a bit of an addiction of mine.” He said, trailing his thumb just under Erik’s lip and turning his attention to the tray that had arrived in front of them. “As hard as it is you must stop kissing me to be able to eat and drink, I got the imported coffee you like so, Magnus…“ He said out loud, a soft whispered projection into their share link without him realising. I do hope it isn’t burnt. How does one even burn coffee. 

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Erik couldn’t understand Charles’s obsession with his mind but he welcomed the soft hum of the presence within his head. He had been so alone for so long it was nice having the subtle hum of the man he loved within his head when things got really bad. He slowly felt the effects of the sleep-induced mini coma he was placed in as he took a moment longer to actually move to get up. Luckily with Charles’s help, he managed easily enough but he made a mental note to start working on his limbs a bit. “You truly hate that thing, it's been years since I’ve worn it simply because I have the stronger Telepath watching out for me. One day the helmet will return Liebling especially given I’m still the leader of the Brotherhood'' he mused moving his hand to trace the other cheek softly before nodding his head “That is the goal but only if you are by my side.”  He replied before looking at the other “Yes you do but then again it's your most attractive quality.” He mused chuckling with the other before smirking “You are a sucker for my German though no denying it now.” He looked at the other’s cheek’s heating up leaning in to whisper in his ear. “Du warst immer mein Liebling. Ich liebe dich Charles”

Erik found his attention solely on Charles within this moment but he couldn’t be blamed after all he’d missed his lover during his restful time to the point that he couldn’t help but chuckle at his words. “You really intended to properly spoil me. I see Charles, I shall enjoy the food so long as you share with me.” He mused taking the cup sipping the coffee finding it just as delicious as the last time he’d remember it's all perfection Liebling he mused through their link as he started to dig into the food.

“Missed out on that. Must have been sleeping in this alley. Obviously, I’m a huge fan of it.” Daken said, pulling himself up to be in a sitting position. He could try and regain some of his dignity, but there wasn’t much of that left. Street rat? Daken was in his superhero costume, or what remained of it after so many weeks rotting in an alley. 

“I’m just chilling. Having a great time. I really love the-” Daken waved his hand around, as if to encompass the entire vibe of this disgusting alley, ”ambience.” The smile dripped from his face as he locked eyes. “I’m not here by choice. You do metal manipulation, right? Do you take requests on people to target?”

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“Count yourself lucky you did, it wasn’t a pleasant experience at all. Yes well to each is their own I suppose when it comes down to it.” Erik replied looking at the other as he pulled himself up into a sitting positions. He found the outfit interesting to say the lease given that he was quite sure he’d never met this kid yet there was a familiarity between them he couldn’t explain.

“I can see that, I’m glad to see your sarcasm is still intact it must mean you don’t have a concussion from the impact or you are just used to this.” Erik replied looking at the other tilting his head. “And how did you know my powers just by looking at me?” He asked suspiciously

“Oh my mistake. I’ll be sure to be much more careful next time.” Daken said, sarcasm dripping from every word. Did this guy honestly think Daken was some drunkard who passed out in a puddle? Well, it wasn’t that far off from what actually happened. He raised his hands in front of his face, watching his fingers slowly mend back to a normal state. Daken’s breath had evened into something more manageable, and not like he had been drowned alive.

“I’m you from the past, obviously. Here to stop you from making hideous fashion choices.” Daken looked back up, obviously scanning the man up and down. “Seems like I’m too late.”

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“One in this City really should, after all only a few weeks ago this entire area was flooded with toxic gases” Erik mused still watching the other the sarcasm from the other tied with his familiar features made Logan’s name come to mind but this person wasn’t him by any means he wouldn’t have the audacity to forget him after all there little play fights. “I rather doubt it given I wouldn’t waste my time going back to this point of time had I found a way to time travel.” He took in the other’s appearance for a moment.

“And I most definitely wouldn’t stand there judging my look when I turned up looking like a drunken street rat, now that you’ve had your fun want to tell me what brought you back here?” He was rather curious as to why the boy had chosen this place.

Rita knew he was appealing to her pride and vanity. She was aware of this. This should be noted despite the fact she took a seat down and gave something of a dramatic sigh. “I suppose I can’t deny a fan.” She said, a smile tugging at her lips. “Where would you like to start?”

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Erik had seen the woman on screen many times, with his family, her movies were a way to distract from the harsh realities for his people during a terrible time. “Of course, and I quite  the fan.” He mused before chuckling “Well I’d love to see what you would pick if I’m honest? Should we start with your favorite?”

Dawning on him the depths he must’ve placed Erik under, fine tuning still unhinged and needing tuning - taking the mental note for later. Walls kept up over his mind to suppress his abilities as always, he merely mindlessly droned in soft touches over sharp bone structure, further onto strong muscle. “Mmmh…” He hummed out longingly, his blues meeting his for a second which turned the corner of his lips up. “Story of our life, both of us too stubborn and far too old to change.” He teased, lightly. Returning the peck of a kiss from Erik, that of a dead fish it felt though Charles placed it down to Erik having a well a deep, deep sleep. His slightly fist hand, knuckles trailing over that of lean muscle under the fabric, soothing the circles and not to firm but firm enough to be felt. “Okay, then. Do tell me if they get bad? I’ll be in that head off yours to bring the organised colour back. Oh, flattery, eh, is this a new tactic of yours? It may or may not be working.” He jabbed back, chuckling at the end from the grasp on his hand. Wiggling his fingers on the back of Erik’s hand, flaring them out in a teasing manner as if controlling that of the metal in the room though he wasn’t doing anything, bring their hands to rest on Charles’ leg, mainly to remind the telepath of his lower body still being there. “Yes, it was feverishly hot under the hood.” He spoke softly, bring himself down a little to press a warm kiss on the top of bronze locks. Not linger, he sat back up. “Really, laying it on thick?” He chuckled, hearing it from many Americans in movies however he has never used that term out loud before and it seemed fitting to do so. “Oh, I bet you must be starving after that sleep of yours. I did try my hand at your mother’s Bauernomelett…” There was an uncertainty from Charles, on if he pronounced the word correctly as he wasn’t quite sure. “The uh-um farmer’s omelet,” he softly nodded his head, cheeks flushed from overthinking it all a bit to much in the moment. 

“Yes, I believe it is best eaten hot.” He chuckled, snaking his arms through Erik’s arms and lifting him with strange ease from all the years of having to wheel himself about and shifting from place to chair. Careful to not place bruising pressure, lightly trailing his hands in circles over the place his hands laid on Erik to pull him against his chest. “Alright, you want to bring the tray over or shall I?” His hand as it was coming to his own person give a little jazz dance in front of Erik’s eyes in a teasing gesture like the one from many years when he asked to bring forth a happy memory. 

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Erik felt drained and groggy but only just so given how awake he seemed to be when the sun was out and Charles was given his full attention. He felt Charles within his head as he always did, but it felt more like he had taken up home inside there given how heavily he’d been placed into a deep sleep. “Sounds about right Liebling, but then again if we were anything but what we were nothing would be as enjoyable when we bend just a bit for one another.” he teased back allowing his hand to run through the other’s hair and down his jaw, he loved these soft moments between the two of them when the worlded faded away and left only them. “You know I’m fine love, I’ll have myself up and running in no time simply because of my sheer willpower alone. “ He joked with the other, nodding his head that he wanted nothing more than to cling to Charles. It was his favorite pastime. When it really came down to it he allowed the other to slowly help him sit up feeling his muscles give way to the sweet tenderness that moved through them from lack of use. “Always laying it on thick when I know it makes you blush and giggle, like a schoolgirl in love” He teased the other before nodding his head “did you really my sweet? Bauernomelett is how you say it just round your mouth a bit more.” He explained before kissing his cheek “ Wie glücklich ich bin, dich mein Liebling nennen zu dürfen”

“It really should be, which is why I can’t wait to taste what you’ve made for me today.” He mused, taking a breath as she slowly reached out feeling the metal first to ensure he could carry it without issue. Once he was sure of his power he slowly raised his hand calling the tray over to them before placing a sweet kiss on his lips distracting him once again. “I so do love that I can do that whenever I wish.”