Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: I am so sorry for the long wait but I am experiencing a huge writer's block the past few months and real life has been quite difficult to boot. I hope this is worth the wait. Feedback is treasured and any encouragement is desperately needed.

Now beta-ed byMissBubbles

oOo

Charles had left that same afternoon.

His departure was met with some resistance from Alex, who had insisted on coming along. Everyone wanted to go, but like Erik, they understood why this time they couldn't. Accepting it was difficult. Hank had explained multiple times to Alex why it was necessary but Erik had the feeling he was trying to persuade himself rather than his fellow mutant.

Two days, Charles had said. Their excursion to DC would not last longer.

Erik had demanded that deadline, determined to act if they had not returned by then.

Waiting back at the mansion was a new experience for the magnetokinetic. Used to the one to take action, it was strange to be left behind like this. It was uncomfortable.

He could deal with the anxiety he felt before encountering a hostile party, he could kill without thinking about it, but he couldn't sit in safety and not know what was going on. It was the hardest thing in the world, to wait, wondering if everything had gone to plan or if anyone was hurt.

He was keenly aware of his foul mood. It had manifested even before Charles's departure and had only gotten worse. The young mutants shied away from him, leaving him to his thoughts. Solitude was something he knew well. It had been a constant in his life. He neither reveled nor shied away from it, it had simply been his reality for many long years. But his meeting with Charles had changed that.

Even if it had been just a few short months since that night, Erik had gotten used to the telepath's presence. He had bonded with another person and now the solitude seemed more hostile, colder and less familiar than it ever had. It was perhaps this feeling of loneliness that had driven him to spend most of his waking hours in Charles's office. Mentally he scoffed at the mere thought, unwilling to consciously acknowledge such a...romantic notion.

The room was more of a library than an office, books littered everywhere and papers stacked here and there. The windows overlooked the garden, which was empty this late in the day. Erik's eyes fell on the clock that decorated the mantelpiece.

They hadn't heard any news from the team, aside from a brief call that Charles had made to assure them they 'd reached DC safely and even then, they only exchanged a few words. During that conversation, Erik sensed that Charles was being invasive and the phone call had ended a little too fast for his comfort. It was like the telepath had been avoiding him again.

The thought didn't sit well with him.

They should have heard something by now. Raven had promised Hank to call as soon as everything was settled. It stood to reason then, that if they hadn't made contact then something must have gone wrong.

Erik clenched his fists.

Simultaneously he heard every metallic object in the room begin to vibrate, resonating with his anger. Closing his eyes, he reached out and felt every speck of metal, every molecule.

Ever since the submarine he had a new feel for his ability. The limits he had before no longer existed. He could shape and bend metal further than before, perceive it without looking at it. He knew Charles would not appreciate him destroying his little sanctum but this was strangely relaxing.

"Erik!" Hank McCoy's voice reached his ears, over the clattering. "Stop this!"

Reluctantly, the magnetokinetic relinquished his hold and restored everything to its original form before turning to glare at the animal-like mutant. To his credit McCoy looked unfazed.

"What do you want?"Erik barked at him.

"What are you doing?" the resident doctor questioned, crossing his arms in front of him, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. The only answer he got however was an annoyed look.

"You're not the only one who's anxious," McCoy remarked, displeasure evident in his voice and a low grumble coloring it. "Just because you are worried about them, doesn't mean that you can bring down the house!"

The calmness Erik had gained briefly was seeping away. Irritation stirred within him once more. He turned away his gaze, completely uninterested in what Hank wanted to say to him.

"Look, I know it-" McCoy started before abruptly falling silent.

That gained Erik's attention. He turned to look at him, puzzled by the sudden silence and saw him crooking his head as if he could hear something.

"What is it?" the magnetokinetic asked, narrowing his eyes.

"They 're back!" the blue-furred mutant exclaimed, looking at Erik with a mixture of relief and joy.

"They 're at the door," Hank moved to grasp the handles of Erik's wheelchair but he was waved away.

"I can do this," Erik stated as he begun levitating the chair, moving it out of the room and down the hall, towards the stairs.

He'd only just made it downstairs, when the door opened and a tired looking Charles walked in. As always, the very first thing he noticed were the telepath's eyes. Usually bright and vibrant were now dimmed, ringed with dark circles. But Erik sensed there was something more to it than just sleep loss.

"Charles." The name escaped his lips almost unwittingly, concern lacing every syllable, but the telepath must have either heard him or felt his presence.

"Erik! " a smile formed on the telepath's lips as he saw him. But there was something about it that made the magnetokinetic feel like it was forced.

Charles then turned to Hank." I see you are taking good care of Erik," earning a timid smile from the younger man as Erik huffed indignantly but was ignored.

"Good evening professor ," Hank muttered coyly, as he usually was when someone praised him for anything.

" I'm sorry I didn't call," the telepath stepped inside, leaving the door open as he fumbled with his keys, averting his eyes, "We thought it best to depart as soon as we were finished."

"Where 's Raven?"Hank questioned, casting a glance behind the telepath.

"Oh, she's coming," Charles confirmed, his forehead furrowing slightly. He shook his head, as though he was trying to rid himself of an unwanted thought and he took a few steps further in before stopping abruptly.

"Are you okay?" Erik asked.

The telepath shook his head before bringing his hands up to rub his temples.

"You look a little unsteady," Hank remarked as Charles placed his hand against the wall.

"I'm fine," the telepath replied after a brief pause as he straightened his posture, "traveling doesn't sit well with me these days."

"You look exhausted Charles," Erik spoke in a firm tone. He was very glad to see that Charles was home in one piece, but also angry at his friend, who would push him to look after himself and not overdo it only to turn around and not heed his own advice.

"No, I think that-" Charles suddenly cried out as he clutched his head with his hands.

Charles doubled over in pain.

"Charles!" Erik exclaimed as he made to move forward, but Hank was quicker. He was at Charles side in moments.

"No, don't touch me!" Charles waved him away weakly.

"What's wrong?" Hank asked, anxiously studying the man in front of him, unsure of what was going on and what he should do.

His dilemma was solved when Charles let out another pained cry and crumpled to the floor. Hank's quick reflexes were the only thing that prevented him from hitting his head.

"Charles!" another exclamation was heard from the door as Raven rushed inside, kneeling down beside Hank, who was cradling Charles' body with care.

"I knew we shouldn't have traveled so soon after-" she mumbled as she knelt by his side.

"What's wrong with him?" Erik was glaring daggers, cursing his uselessness.

"It's probably just a migraine. He's exhausted." Hank declared, trying to sound reassuring. "I don't think fatigue is the cause of this," a soft, purring voice interrupted them.

Three pairs of eyes turned towards the door, where Emma Frost, clad in her usual white attire, was standing.

oOoTBCoOo

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