CHARLES (X)AVIER

“True. But I also do my best to help others– sometimes it is not as easy to accept when you are used to giving.”

“Well, it’s going to be something you’ll have to get used to, my boy. Think about it.”

Erik’s smug look stayed put, fueled even more as he watched Charles smile right back. He had never allowed himself to enjoy vulnerable moments like this in the past, and there wasn’t anything that could pull him away from enjoying it now. “It is good to see you as well, Charles. I know that things haven’t gone exactly according to plan, but I must confess that I am proud and.. happy, to be standing with you as Krakoa grows.”

Charles nodded in agreement. ‘Things haven’t gone exactly according to plan’ was a bit of an understatement ( albeit true ), but having Erik by his side again was a surprising but welcome change.

“It truly is one of our greatest achievements, isn’t it?”

“That’s not the point. If we want to get technical here Charles, at this point I should only be about six years old. But I’m not. Time isn’t that simple. And I don’t ever want to be considered one of the ‘young ones’.”

The telepath shook his head, “I suppose so-- but why are we arguing, Nathan? Haven’t we solved things?”

“Second chances were always for other people– you, Jean. Not me.”

“Don’t shut yourself down like that. You’re just as deserving as the rest of us, Logan. You’ve got a good heart.”

“You’ve got some pretty strong personalities there. I’m surprised you guys can all hold hands and sing kumbaya together.”

“It’s-- challenging. But Krakoa is thriving. It seems to be a good indicator things are working just the way they are.” If there were flaws in Krakoa’s infrastructure, Charles was doing everything in his power to squash them.

“So many souls languishing. There’s been no Valkyrie to ferry them there. They’re rotting.” Whatever laws Asgard has had to be specific to its realms. Thor had seen their land of the dead and she didn’t want to consider her loved ones there. Refusing to mourn in the moment, the blonde rolled her shoulders back and smiled from under her helmet. “It looks like you’ve created you own Valhalla.” 

Charles’ brow wrinkled in disapproval, “Is there no one else to take over the task?” Not wanting to push further, Charles understood that Thor felt the same and his own expression softened, “ That we have. Although I’m not sure how close this is to what you’ve known.”

“It does not matter if it hurts, we do what we have to. Emma and Scott always got that.” Maybe it was why Illyana had defected to their side for so long.

“That’s very--- noble Illyana. But if you’re refusing to take yourself into consideration, that only tells me you need someone else to do it for you.”

“It’s too late for that, Charles. That ship has sailed and Shaw looks as alive and greasy as ever. His first action, of course, was to resurrect Shinobi but I would have to guess that something is afoot there.” Emma paused, shoulders rolling back as all pretenses dropped. “I’m worried, Charles. When Kate first manifested her powers we both tried to get her to join our causes. She chose you then but she’s picked me now and I need to make sure she is safe. If her little inability to get onto Krakoa persists, do you think we would be able to resurrect her or would we lose her entirely?” 

Charles shook his head, blinking slowly and deliberately, “Ah yes, my mistake. These things tend to get a bit fuzzy sometimes.” Looking up to make eye contact with Emma, Charles folded his arms across his chest, “I’m not sure. Logically, I’d say yes, but you know how these things are. It’s not like it’s an exact science.”

“Of course not.” Crystalia had thee privilege of most of her family being alive ( despite the state of array they were in ) but she’d always miss the parents she had been conditioned to not speak of. How would she have been if they had never died? And then there were all the Inhumans who had been lost to war and stupidity. “But it must be nice to have a say in who gets to be alive.”

“It is certainly---” Charles paused, thinking about his words. Convenient? Lucky? “--helpful. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a deeply crucial responsibility and that sometimes the easiest choice isn’t always the correct choice.”

She blinked at him for a moment. “You’ve got to be kidding me. So just like that, my issues are written off like they don’t matter. Good to know the mutant faction is no different than the human one. Good to see you’re making the world a better place for everybody.”

“Once again, I’m sorry you feel that way Felicia, but my priorities lie with the people of Krakoa. I never claimed your problems weren’t as valid. Just that I’m not sure if I’ll be able to help you.”

“Thanks, but I already skip my Monday/Wednesday therapy sessions, so I don’t think I’ll be adding anymore to my roster.”

“Julian--” Charles gave the younger mutant a stern look, before lightening up, “Alright, fine. You’re a grown man, do whatever you so choose.”

“There’s much we should pass on and little we actually will.”

“And why do you figure that is?”

“My goal is not to win anything. I will be myself and do my best. If people believe I’m genuine I’ll be relieved, but I will not pander or beg. I will make my presence here minimal. My goal is to spend more time with my father, but while Krakoa is lovely it is not my home.”

“That’s- unfortunate,” Charles raised an eyebrow at Wanda’s thoughts on Krakoa, his expression echoing just a hint of frustration, “---but I understand. Family is everything.”

“Charles,” she smiled politely. Susan didn’t want to have a problem with him but she did. Franklin was worth fighting tooth and nail for to protect. “He’d be cut off from us. What he’s going through right now is something he should be going through with Reed and myself. With all due respect, Charles, you may be a parent but you aren’t Franklin’s. You don’t get to pick.”

Charles nodded understandingly, “That is true. Perhaps we could make an exception and you’d be willing to come to Krakoa as well. For Franklin’s benefit, of course.” As much as the idea didn’t seem likely, having someone like Sue, or Reed for that matter, around could be greatly beneficial to the mutant cause.

“She invaded Sam’s head and violated his privacy. I know he’s upset about it, but it’s all been passed off as fine. She’ll never be held responsible for what she did to him.” Nadia wasn’t even acknowledging herself.

Charles’ history with Emma was...complicated. But that didn’t mean he was eager to dismiss what the woman had done, the impact she had caused on the lives of innocent individuals -- most importantly the individual standing in front of him.

“I’m sorry Nadia. I truly am. Is there any way I can make things better?”

“Yes, he does tend to be an infuriatingly painful individual.” Lorna agreed, still with love but slightly less so. “Of course. He’s in the middle of being redeemed. It’s part of why this is so damn aggravating. It makes it harder to stay mad at him. How have you forgiven him so many times?”

Charles took a deep breath, pondering his words. How had he forgiven him so often? The answer was there, but did he want to come to terms with it right now? Admit the truth?

Absolutely not.

“I’m not sure I know the answer to that.”