Magneto
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Post by Magneto on Apr 25, 2012 18:31:26 GMT -5
Magneto touched down in the school's courtyard.
A late night (or was it early morning?) arrival. Again.
It wasn't something he particularly delighted in, but a necessity nonetheless.
There were relationships to be founded and maintained, threats to be monitored, allies to keep an eye on, forces to be assembled and directed... a general had little time for rest or more personal matters. These things had to be done and Erik was the one who had to do them, that didn't mean he took any joy in them.
Except that, in a way, he did.
With every bit of news from Latveria or message from New York and every visit to some point or person of strategic importance his blood thrummed more, longing for the battles he had so long been denied. In uniting against a new threat and for a cause Erik felt as if he were regaining his youth in an almost literal way.
The master of magnetism allowed himself a smile as he brought up his hands to remove his helmet, but stilled as his gloves touched the metal. The helmet was once again a near constant companion for him, shielding his thoughts even more effectively than even he himself could. It wasn't that he didn't trust or love Charles... he did, very much so... which was exactly why the telepath required this protection.
His beloved was done fighting and Erik wished to respect that, so the less Charles knew the better.
It was a lie he could almost make himself believe.
Suddenly Magneto lowered his hands, helmet still firmly in place, and snapped his head in the direction of a strong metal presence.
"Logan," he stated coldly.
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Logan
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Post by Logan on Apr 25, 2012 18:35:27 GMT -5
"Took ye long enough," Logan growled at what apparently would have to pass for Erik's greeting rather than a curse.
The mutant would know, he'd been waiting up for quite a while now, smoking cigars and drinking whisky as he waited for Magneto to return.
The bastard had been spending more and more days and nights away from the school and while Wolverine himself would only welcome the other man's absence, it was clear that it affected Charles in a less than positive way.
And that just wasn't okay.
"Where the hell've you been off to?"
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Magneto
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Post by Magneto on Apr 25, 2012 18:43:26 GMT -5
"I fail to see how that concerns you." Erik's voice was soft, but warning.
This impertinent little pup would have to learn how to back off and keep his nose out of other people's business. Admittedly, in another scenario a warrior such as Wolverine would have been a valuable asset, one he would have gladly recruited to his cause, but as things stood... well, it simply wouldn't be a good way to keep Charles out of all this.
This was confirmed by Logan's entire demeanour. The way he stood there, somewhat crouched and inhaling through his nose like some beast ready to defend its owner... nothing at all like the almost playful brat Erik had occasionally stuck to the fridge once he'd felt sufficiently annoyed. Then again, Magneto himself no longer felt like the man who'd done that either.
While he mildly wondered whether the other mutant was trying to get some sort of information from his scent, Erik just really couldn't be bothered to find out. If there had been something to detect those keen senses would have found it by now and it would doubtlessly be reported to Charles in the morning. If there wasn't anything to be found, all the better for it.
"Now, if you wouldn't mind stepping aside?" It wasn't a request.
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Logan
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Post by Logan on Apr 25, 2012 18:52:05 GMT -5
"Yeah, actually I would mind that!" Logan snarled as he walked closer to the other man, his muscles tout and claws ready to shoot out and test Magneto's reflexes should push come to shove.
"Look at yerself, Mags! Sneakin' out at all hours, stayin' away fer days on end, not tellin' no one where you've been, wearing yer old gettup again... not to mention that helmet!"
With something between satisfaction and dread Logan noted that as he gestured towards the helmet Erik moved his head ever so slightly backwards, as if to keep it away from him without actually retreating.
"Yer hidin' sumfin'," he stated flatly, holding his hand up again to keep the other mutant from interrupting. "An' fer me, that's fine. But yer also hidin' it from Charles and that damn well ain't fine, dammit!"
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Magneto
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Post by Magneto on Apr 25, 2012 18:59:16 GMT -5
Erik listened to the Canadian's ranting with something akin to amusement, although the man's breath made his nose wrinkle. He stank of cigar smoke and hard liquor, which wasn't nearly as appealing a fragrance as some authors would have one believe.
"You're drunk," he said with disdain.
It was an easy out, surely. Truth be told it was almost beneath Erik to use Logan's drinking to completely disregard the accusations thrown at him, but it was what he chose to do nonetheless, which would have perhaps been an answer in itself to someone more perceptive than Wolverine.
"And now move." The final word was accompanied by an in itself simple sweeping hand gesture that sent the other mutant flying until Logan hit a large nearby tree with a resounding crack.
Erik didn't even look towards him as he began to walk towards the house.
((Cue Charles))
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Post by Charles Francis Xavier on Apr 25, 2012 20:13:05 GMT -5
But he wouldn't get the chance to get too far, as a voice came booming from behind him.
"Erik!"
Charles had watched in horror as Erik had thrown Logan to the side.
He knew Logan would be fine sure, but he'd be extremely put out once he gathered himself up again.
He'd sensed Logan's agitation all night, it was hard to ignore when he filled his mind up with thoughts of confronting Erik when he came back. He never meant to monitor Logan so closely, but he feared something like this happening.
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Magneto
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Post by Magneto on Apr 25, 2012 20:33:17 GMT -5
"Charles," Erik greeted with something that might be a smile hidden in that small part of his face that was left visible by his helmet.
"You're up awfully late." His tone was surprisingly light and conversational, much more befitting a husband coming home from work in some 60's sitcom than someone in his present situation.
"But no matter... let's go to bed, shall we? We need our rest." On the whole, he was acting as if the entire incident with Logan hadn't transpired.
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Logan
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Post by Logan on Apr 25, 2012 20:41:10 GMT -5
Logan grumbled and growled as he picked himself up off the ground, leaning against the tree for a moment while waiting for the dizziness the impact had caused to pass. He spared the wood a sympathetic glance. No old oak should be faced with the violence of having a Wolverine crash into it with that much force.
Damn, the old metalbending geezer still had a lot of umph left in him...
It was then that he registered Charles' presence. Not that it was truly surprising. Logan had felt the telepath inside his mind during the day, catching his thoughts. Perhaps he'd subconsciously broadcast them, luring the other man in, welcoming him to see all he had to offer. The reason for this was twofold.
One, Logan was one of the few who truly enjoyed Xavier's presence in his mind. It felt good to have someone else in there with him, something familiar within the tangle of memories, deceptions and blankness.
And two, he wanted Charles to know that he wasn't like Erik. That he could be trusted and would not keep anything from him.
Showing remarkable restraint, Wolverine didn't lunge for Magneto straight away again, but simply made an effort to focus a reassuring thought towards Charles as he waited to see what would happen.
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Post by Charles Francis Xavier on Apr 25, 2012 20:44:32 GMT -5
"For god sakes man, you pretend as if I just didn't watch you throw Logan in to a tree!" He was visibly upset and for good reason.
Here stood the man whom he'd considered his partner, his husband even. A man whom he'd loved so truly, for so long, and whom he'd given all of what he was to be with him.
Wearing a suit he promised he'd retired, wearing a smile that said he was keeping secrets, and wearing a helmet that proved it all.
"What kind of fool do you take me for?"
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Magneto
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Post by Magneto on Apr 25, 2012 20:53:51 GMT -5
"Logan is drunk," Erik said with a dismissive shrug.
"Had I truly had any inclination to harm him, there would have been far more effective ways than merely sweeping him aside. As it was, it was simply the most effective way of bypassing his alcohol-fueled rantings and making my way to bed."
Oh yes... Magneto could be far more effective... suspending him in the air by the adamantium fused to his bones, moving every single individual bone in ever so slightly a different direction... and then, should he wish to do so, stripping the metal from them, ripping it right out of Logan's body to suspend in the air before him... perhaps he could then even turn it into a weapon to be used against the by then no doubt severely weakened mutant. It would be almost poetic...
Erik blinked a few times to rid himself of such thoughts.
"I'm sure he'll be his usual self again after he gets some sleep. Just like we should."
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Logan
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Post by Logan on Apr 25, 2012 20:58:25 GMT -5
Oh, for... that was too much for Logan to keep quiet through. Couldn't the bastard see he was hurting Charles?!
"Are ye even lis'nin to yerself?! Ye-" There would have been quite the string of profanities attached to that statement had Wolverine not suddenly found himself with the sensation of his throat closing up, leaving him to grasp uselessly at it until the pressure relented a few short moments later and he could gratefully suck in a few lungfuls of air.
The strange thing was, Magneto didn't seem to have moved or even looked at him. Nowadays the usage of his powers usually had to be connected to some sort of action to focus them.
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Post by Charles Francis Xavier on Apr 25, 2012 21:04:37 GMT -5
"It takes quite a bit for Logan to become inebriated" Charles replied, knowing better than most about Logan's drinking habits "and he's yet to hit that point, so tell me again why is it that you've-" Charles stopped, his eyes wide and shaking as he heard Logan gasp for air, then suddenly breathe again.
His face swung back to Erik's, more upset than he was before.
"What is it that you are hiding Erik? And do not begin on some string of lies, because if you believed what you were saying, you'd remove the helmet!" He almost screamed, but couldn't find it in himself to do it.
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Magneto
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Post by Magneto on Apr 25, 2012 21:17:43 GMT -5
"Charles, there's nothing to tell you and there would be no need for me to remove my helmet if you'd only trust me, but I'm guessing such things are just pretty words now? I came here for us, remember? There is nothing to hide in this world, as you often point out." Erik's calm façade was cracking, each word becoming just a bit more snarled as the thought of having to remove his helmet spurred him on.
Charles had no business in this, quite the contrary. He had to be kept safe and away from these issues, this upcoming war that was no longer his to fight. And Erik surely wasn't going to let the accusations of some savage put Charles in harm's way.
He took a calming breath and forced a smile, evening out his voice once more.
"You let Logan get into your head too much. Now, please love, let us get some rest. Everything is always more clear in the morning."
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Logan
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Post by Logan on Apr 25, 2012 21:21:16 GMT -5
Oh, well that was just charming!
First the bastard went and damn near choked him to death and now Logan was the bad guy?
Not to mention that tone... that tone that was so... Magneto.
Logan had meant what he'd told his friend that first night. He truly believed Erik loved Charles. But Magneto... of him he wasn't so sure. While some might argue that they were one and the same, it surely didn't seem like it from where he was standing.
"Enuff of this," he growled as his claws slid out with a small *snikt*.
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Post by Charles Francis Xavier on Apr 25, 2012 21:31:43 GMT -5
"Logan" Charles held up his hand, but didn't move.
"Yes, you did come here for us" he blinked very slowly, looking down at his lap as he did so "you came here so we could be at peace, so you could find peace Erik" he adjusted his hands "yet you continually push it away-"
He looked up, his face completely emotionless "-push me away. At this moment, I feel farther away from you than even when we were at war."
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