Word Count: 1,017

the existence of hope

The two men are about to head (back) inside when Charles recalls the reason he had left the house in the first place.

"I had plans for tonight," he says, half-turning back to Erik.

The other man shrugs. "So cancel them. This is more important."

"I know that myself. I only mention it because Raven is already there." Then something occurred to him. "Wait, do you know Raven?"

"I do," Erik confirmed. There was something in his eye that suggested that he did a lot more than merely Know her, but Charles decided not to question it. At least not for now.

"Can't you reach her from here, though?" Erik questioned, frowning as if it was an outlandish thought. Which, based on what he had seen in the European's head, might be a fair assumption.

"Well, I could" Charles hesitates, "but she doesn't really like having me in her head."

"If she's going to join us, she's going to have to get used to that sooner or later," Erik points out. "She might as well start now."

Charles supposes that the other man has a point. From what he had seen, even if he hadn't understood everything, this (at least by comparison) rather unique way of communication would become necessary in the near future and finding a faster or safer method would be so difficult that it had no real point.

"Let's not do it in the hall," Charles proposes, climbing the last few stairs to his apartment.

"Alright." Erik starts following him.

For once, Charles is thankful for the extravagant furniture his parents insisted on buying for him. If it were just him and Raven in charge of this, he's sure there would be anything but beds, a fridge, and perhaps a couch.

They sit down in, Charles on his favourite armchair and Erik on the couch. Now that the two are outside of the public eye, Charles closes his eyes and attempts to find Raven's mind. The distance makes it harder, but her mind stands out, so it doesn't take all that long.

She is sitting in a corner of their favourite pub, absently stirring her drink and watching a few of his fellow students.

Raven, he calls, to get her attention. Raven, I won't be coming.

Charles, what are you doing? You can't just work on your title 24/7! Also, I thought I told you not to do this.

Raven takes another sip of her drink, emptying it.

You did, but I'm afraid that this is necessary. And I'm not working on my thesis. Something, or rather someone, has turned up, he replies. He needs my help. And yours as well, if you're willing to give it.

Charles can hear Raven sighing and see her standing up and gathering her things.

I'm coming. Don't do anything I wouldn't.

I hope you are aware how short that list is.

I am. She nods. Now shoo. I'll be there as soon as possible.

Charles blinks a few times. The image of the pub dissolves and he can see Erik again.

"Sorry," the American apologizes, unsure what else to do or say. The situation is very awkward and he has the strong suspicion that it will be a while until that changes.

"No worries," Erik dismisses Charles concern with a small gesture. "I actually like observing you while you use your power. Watching you train was always a pleasure."
It occurs to Charles how weird it is that the man next to him is a tired, war-torn, old man who has seen more pain and suffering than any human ever should and at the same time a hurt young man, yearning to find a place to belong.

"How are you even here?" Charles blurts out before he can stop himself. "I mean, how is it possible for you to return to here from that mess of a future?"

"It is because of the Time Gem," Erik replies after a few seconds.

"The what?" Charles inquires.

"The Time Gem," Erik repeats. "It's one out of six, together called the Infinity Stones. Together, they have immense power. If one were to assemble all of them, they could basically control the universe in every single aspect."
"That sounds...horrifying." Because Charles' mind immediately goes to the horrible things people could do with that power if it got in the wrong hands. Where the even right hands for something like this?

"Huh." Erik looks surprised. "I would've expected you to think of the great things that could be done with such power first."
"There might be some great potential in that, yes, but there is also a significantly higher chance for people abusing that power I like to see the best in people, but even I know that power corrupts and that such a power would corrupt most if not everyone who has ever existed or will ever do so. I'm an optimist, not a fool," Charles summarizes. "Now, how did you happen to stumble over the Time Gem?"

"There was someone attempting to collect all of them. Thanos, the Mad Titan, was his name, or at least how I knew him as. His plan was to kill the entire universe and gift the souls to the personification of Death."
"Okay. That sounds...weird," Charles comments slowly.

"It really says something about my life that it doesn't for me," Erik mutters, shaking his head. "Anyway, the Time Gem was one of the last two missing in his collection and I was a part of the group to defend it. I don't really know what happened to them or how exactly I ended here of all places, because, to my knowledge, no one ever figured out the Gem or how to activate it. I was the oldest of the group apart from Thor, so he might be back to, but I don't think anyone else was born yet." He snorts. "Or if they are then we are going to have to deal with a few traumatized children."

"Let's hope that's not the case, then," Charles mumbles.

"Yeah," Erik agrees. "Let's hope."

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