Chapter Text
The small boat drifted along the ocean currents, carrying two old friends to an island of Genosha. They sat beside each other comfortably in silence while surrounded by the soothing sound of waves humming and seabirds chirping.
The setting sun, painting the sky in golden hue, added another layer of beauty to an already spectacular view. Charles would have appreciated it more, if within his head could remain calm like his appearance. For the first time, the thought of going to new place made him feel uneasy. The closer he got to the island, the more he braced himself to hear unpleasant thoughts from Erik’s people.
Charles raised his hand to block the evening light shining directly onto his face and turned aside. His gaze landed on Erik. He had his eyes closed, face relaxing and the way his face glow made Charles unable to look away.
Grey eyes locked with blue pairs. Charles realized he had been caught. He quickly broke contact, hoping his rosy cheeks went unnoticed but it was too late.
“Found something interesting?” Erik said, the corner of his mouth twitched upward in amusement.
With a sigh, he faced Erik again and proceeded to come clean. “It’s your face, Erik.” The metal bender raised his eyebrow slightly. Charles added, “You look the same since the last time I saw you.” And it was over a decade ago, he wanted to say.
Erik nodded as his lip parted in a silent ‘oh’ and returned to gaze at the ocean before responding. “Nature and isolation will do that to you, old friend.”
“Perhaps,” Charles muttered. In his mind, he recalled the time he cut himself off from the world. Unlike Erik now, he had been an absolute mess, sad and broken. What would become of him this round of isolation, he wondered.
Erik turned to stare at him, eyes narrowing. “I couldn’t say the same to you.”
Charles put on a straight face and focused on the ocean. What did Erik expect? Anger and sorrow were his only friends these days. Given more time, he would resort to alcohol again.
“I hope the island will heal you the same way it did to me.” Erik said in a calm, unhurried voice after a while.
He looked back at Erik in doubt. “What if your people don’t like me?” The people of Genosha had every right to reject him after what had happened.
Charles followed Erik’s hand moving to touch his but hesitated. It then settled on his shoulder in a light pat. “Nonsense, Charles. They know what happen was not your fault. They would find relish in your stay.” Erik continued, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll stand by you.” Erik’s words, like a gust of wind, blown all of his doubt away.
They cracked a smile at each other.
“We’re here. Are you ready?” Erik asked.
“I’m more than ready, Erik.” His smile broadened and Erik smirked back at him. Just like once upon a time, Charles thought. He felt nostalgic.
Erik then guided the boat towards the quay.
Shortly after, they came to complete stop. Erik searches his eyes to ask for permission to help him. Nodding, his wheelchair was being lifted and landed on a wooden platform. Once settled, Erik beckoned him to follow. Charles pushed himself behind him as Erik walked to the concrete pathway that led to what could be called a town square.
Glancing around, Charles could describe his initial feeling of this new land as quieted, greened and simple. Not bad from Westchester, he thought.
On the way, Charles could see many houses mostly made-up from old containers. Some were piled up on top of one another to make two or three-story house. Some others preferred to stay one floor above the ground while some more were resided in the distance, hiding behind the thick forest. Among them all lied the pointy red house, standing out among the rest. The design and coloring displayed the symbolism of the only man who possessed the power of magnetism.
Suddenly, Charles heard it. The sound of many curiosities brushed his mind. One by one, Genosha residents showed up to see who their leader had in tow. Around him stood the crowd consist entirely of mutant children, teens and mostly adults.
Charles relaxed his grip on the chair and offered them a polite smile.
Then Erik introduced him. “This is Charles or you may know him as the professor,”
“He will stay with us from now on. So, everyone please make him feel at home.” He added.
They gasped, their eyes widen after Erik finished talking. The reaction soon turned into smiles and Charles found his heart swelled with joy from their actions. Though a few people still eyed him in distrust but that’s okay, Charles could accept this.
Erik flashed him with ‘I told you so’ face before continue moving. They head towards the direction of the crimson house.
Charles hadn’t thought about it at all when he agreed to come here. He wasn’t ready if he ended-up living under the same roof as Erik. He prepared to protest.
However, he breathed a subtle sigh of relief when Erik walked pass it and instead led him to the house next door.
First things Charles noticed, fresh paint and a ramp unlike others houses in the area. With a snap of his finger, Erik had the door opened and went inside. Charles followed him. Another flick, the room lit up in warm light. He saw a tiny kitchen on his right side. A bit further was the bed and a door, which he assumed, led to bathroom. All were made with wheelchair accessible.
To his left, there was a small wooden table and books underneath but his gazed lingered on the bouquet of wild flowers, adorning lovingly on top of the table. Charles smiled fondly at the memory behind it. The morning strolls into the nearby forest, just the two of them. Holding hands, sneaking kisses under the misty jungle and they would go back when the dazzling light came. Every time, Charles would pick a bunch of wild flowers home.
“You remember.” Charles said when he sensed Erik standing right behind and turned to meet him.
Erik said to him, softly. “I never forget.”
Time seemed to stop when they stared into each other’s eyes. Erik’s gaze slowly fell down on his lip. Charles cleared his throat as his heart began to accelerate. Even though their reconciliation had been restored, he preferred their personal relationship to stay that way for now.
Charles changed the topic.
“I like what you did to this place, Erik. Thank you.” Despite this was not the luxury he used to have, somehow it already felt homely.
Erik tried to act cool but inside his mind, he was relieved that he liked what he built, Charles could feel it.
“You must be exhausted. I’ll help you unpack.” His belongings laid behind Erik. He must have floated them here when Charles busied checking out the house.
“That’s okay, Erik. I can take it from here.” Charles responded.
“Then I will bring you dinner later.” With a nod, Charles watched as Erik turned to leave in reluctance.
He stopped half way, looking back and closed the distance between them. Erik planted a kiss on top of his head and whispered, “Charles, thank you for deciding to come.” He then quickly exited.
Charles ran his hand over that spot on his forehead and smiled alone. He could allow this one, he told himself.
I want you by my side. Suddenly, those words popped up inside his mind. It took him back to that day on the beach. A long time ago, he refused. But this time he chose differently.
Chuckling, Charles thought that fate had its way no matter how many years had passed.
Indeed, just like today. It had been unpredictable. Who would have thought that his day started in Paris and ended-up in Genosha. Not like he’d complain. He just hoped that this was the beginning of everything good.