One on One Private X-Men
 

Erik raises an eyebrow slowly as the taxi stops in front of such a dilapidated home. That seemed to be in the middle of no were and the furthest point of civilization as it could be.z He stares out the window taking in the over grown lawn that was filled with grass, weeds, out of control bushes, trees, trash, you name it.z

The house it self was broken down and just looked like it was going to FALL down more than stay up much longer. The porch was sagging and tired looking.z The yellow paint that was probably was cheery at one point on the two story home was faded, chipped, peeling and in need of repainting. The white shutters (which where in no better painted shape) were half gone on half the broken windows and half missing totally from the home.=z The front door was falling in a bit off its rusted hinges, rusted knob and rusted over door knocker.

"Um, Charles...such a cheery spot. Are you sure you got the right address?", he wondered if the other man had gone mad.z Course, he hadn't been wrong BEFORE...not to say he was now...but...come on!

Actually, he was right....the mutant inside was living in the basement. NOT a happy camper as anger, pain and just all around displeasure throbs out of the home.z Having been trapped there for so long as everything steadily builds.z

Charles gripped the taxi’s armrest with white knuckles. His legs still tingled uncomfortably at the aftereffects of Hank’s special concoction and he had to wonder yet again what he was getting himself into. Erik had shown up on his doorstep just over a week again with a peace offering—Cerebro. He had wanted so much to refuse, still wounded by his friend’s betrayal, but in the end Erik had convinced him. Things had been tense at first but Charles couldn’t deny that he had missed Erik and their friendship.

Charles looked up as the taxi’s breaks squealed them to a halt a just in front of a very run down dwelling. Without looking over at Erik he replied with a simple “yes” and pushed open the door. Extracting himself from the taxi was somewhat painful but nowhere near the steady stream of pain, anger, and hate he could feel trying to seep through his dulled mutant senses. The young man closed his eyes briefly before turning to his friend. “Shall we?” he asked, gesturing for Erik to lead the way.

((I decided to go with after First Class.))

((Hey, you still want to play this?))

Erik couldn't feel what Charles felt coming from that place. Which looked a bit like hell on Earth in its own creepy way. Shifting he opens his door getting out slowly. He looks over at Charles knowing it would be unwise to offer his "friend" any help. He still wasn't fully sure friends, whatever they where....However, here they where once more looking for thier own kind together again.

He shifts and starts forward first getting the quite hint to do so. Picking his way threw over growth on the chipped, cracked, on even concert. Some bushes with some sticky thorns grow to close to the pathway too. "This is such a chipper place Charles....I say...we go back to where we got Angel..." He looks at a faded out sign that was chipped, ect reading it used to say Lucky Ducky Orphanage. "Not so lucky or ducky anymore....." He shakes his head and pulls his sleeve free from a sticker bush heading to the front door.

Charles fell into step beside Erik as he led the way down the cracked and uneven concrete. Despite the dulled sensations of pain and anger throbbing in his head he couldn’t help but chuckle at Erik’s comment. ”Yes, no doubt that would be more amusing,”he admitted. As they neared the door he caught sight of the faded sign and risked tearing his jacket on the thorned bushes to lightly touch the rotting wood. It was clear this place hadn’t served it’s original purpose in a very long time. Rejoining Erik on the sidewalk, they stepped up to the front door. Charles rapped his knuckles loudly against the wooden surface. ”Hello? Anyone home?” he asked shouting slightly to ensure he was heard. He hoped that the occupant of the forlorn building would come forth without further insistence.

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Erik had shifted aside when Charles had joined him up on the porch. Even that was delapated and a bit saggy in some spots. The steps did hold thier weight and the the porch itself for now too. "Oh, yes....even the fuck off one would be more amusing than this. This....this is just miserable." He still thought MAYBE that Charles was wrong. How could anyone live here?! He waits patiently or impatiently for the door to open. Though the minute Charles knocked on the door a creaking sound was heard and the door falls inward on itself. Landing with a loud thud on a perfect white and black marbled floor. "Good one Charles...I didn't think you where that strong." He shifts and looks inside over his friends shoulder arching an eyebrow, "Why is the inside so much nicer?" True it was perfect inside...painted a cheerful robins egg blue, landscape paintings, a desk with papers (ect) on it, and so much more. it looked nothing like the outside, "You first Charles."

zigbigadorlube:

“I wasn't planing on breaking an entering…” Charles winced as the door slammed against the floor inside, “So I’ll take that as an invitation.” Stepping inside, Charles marveled the colorful paintings and decor. “Charming,” he said almost sarcastically. Extending his senses, he tried to get a location on mutant they were searching but his powers were weakened and he couldn’t get a clear indication. “Hello?,” he repeated loudly, “We have a proposition for you if you’re willing to hear it,” he practically shouted. Falling silent, he strained his ears for any indication where their fugitive might be located.

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Erik pats Charles shoulder, "No, but you did a mighty fine job of doing so without my help in the least." He shifts and fallows inside after Charles walked into the room. He looks around intently shaking his head, "Why not have the outside like the inside?" OK things didn't add up in his brain on this one. The anger and fear level has gotten much higher now as the pair enter. The sound of someone bouncing a ball could be heard coming down the hallway now. Erik arches an eyebrow slowly as a little girl around the age of 8 comes out into the room dressed in a ratty, miss colored night gown that might have been green at one point. She has untrusting green eyes and knotty, black hair that was down her back. She pauses mid bounce of her red, rubber ball frowning at the pair of adults, "You don't belong here...."

Charles shook his head as the pain in his mind intensified. Thankfully their target had finally stopped playing hide and seek and Charles turned his head in the direction from which he can hear a ball bouncing against the floor. A moment later a small girl emerges dressed in rags, her hair impossibly knotted. He wasn’t surprised in the least by he appearance. She was exactly as he’s seen her through cerebro, except for her eyes. They were far more vibrant than he’d imagined, almost eerily so. “We’ve come to see you,” Charles said cautiously, hoping Erik would hold off on wisecracking until he could get a feel for the girl. He sincerely hoped that they would be able to convince her to come with them without scaring her away for the girl’s sake. It was clear that she could use a bath, some new clothes and a good meal not to mention a bit of training. Something must have happened to her to leave her all alone with so much pent up pain and anger…

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Erik couldn't help himself and mutters about her being a pipsqueek and why would they want one of those. Or something similar to that extent of his comments. More like he would never want a pipsqueek...worthless to his growing Brotherhood. The girl's eyes snap to Erik and glares at him coldly. She shifts and throws the ball smacking the other man hard in the face with it making it than bounce off a wall and roll away down on the floor. Erik scowls, "Now see here!" He steps forward and ends up going threw the floor finding a weak point ending up on the basement floor with a thud and a large cloud of dust, grime and foul smelling things. The girl looks back at Charles locking eyes with him no trust in them what so ever, "Wanna try anything? WHY ARE YOU HERE?!" The ager burning from her. Clearly it wouldn't be so easy with her thats for sure at least not until trust was earned.

“You just had to open your mouth, didn’t you?” Charles mumbles to himself flinching as the ball smacks audibly against Erik’s face. “Erik, wait!” he cries as the other mutant steps forward to grab the girl then blinks in surprise when the floor gives out, leaving a gaping hole between himself and the girl. “You alright?” he calls out before locking eyes with the girl. It was clear that she didn’t trust him. “My apologies. My…friend can be a bit impatient. I assure you that we aren’t here to hurt you though. You see, we’re like you…” he said cautiously, “We can do things that normal people can’t.”

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Erik groans and calls up to Charles, "Oh I am just wonderful!" Massive sarcasm with hacking from dust mixed with gosh only knows what else flies into his nose, mouth and lungs. Shifting he sits up slowly rather bruised but fine other wise. He squints looking around slowly trying to get his barring. Other than some weak light from above and some from half covered up small windows down there it was dark and gloomy. "Wonderful...", he grumbles getting up slowly. "You owe me for this one Charles!" He calls up before trying to find some stairs. The minute he starts moving was when the fear level becomes almost unbarring. The girl freezes and the walls around them start to falter back to faded, peeling old paint, broken paintings, ect. She glares at Charles and pushed her mind on his, though nothing like he could do thats for sure to see if he was lying, "Prove it." She looked even more nervous now as she backs up a bit.

Charles ignores Erik’s comment and focuses on the girl in front of him. It’s clear that she’s nervous and the illusion placed on the building wavers. “Interesting…” Charles mumbles before he can feel her attempting to invade his mind. He winces at the mental pain forced on him from her contact. Pushing back against her, though not forcefully, he speaks into her mind, also broadcasting his thoughts to Erik so he knows what’s going on. ’A psychic AND an illusionist. Impressive, though I daresay you could use a bit of training…’

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Erik pauses and tilts his head to the side hearing that since he wasn't wearing his helmet. He arches an eyebrow slowly and mutters, "Well explains the nice inside of the place than the outside." He grumbles and tries to dust himself off a bit heading forward again. Unsure he was going the right way. But where he was the light squishy sound of old standing water could be felt under foot. Not a ton but enough to be gross mixed with the wonderful smell of mildew and gosh only knows what else. He pauses and frowns slowly, "Um, Charles? We seem to have a well....I don't think she is the right one chatting to you up there..." No, in fact the little girl was in front of Erik curled up in a tight ball in a dog wired like crate thats locked.

The illusions fade as the poor girl couldn't split herself much longer. The walls switch, the floors switch to falling apart and cracked marble like top (not real marble fake), until there was nothing left but her small form standing in front of Charles shaking. She could hear him in her mind as she shakes her head. "Please...don't hurt me.", she mummers faintly. Ok so she did believe him on the gift bit at least.

Charles cocks his head as Erik calls out to him from down below. His brow furrows as he mentions the dupe and looks back at the girl in front of him. There’s no real way of telling which is the real one and which is fake. As the illusions fade from the walls around him, Charles approaches the hole in the floor and looks down. The dust is fading now and he catches sight of the second girl curled up in the crate.

Sighing, he looks back at the girl across from him. “We have no intention of hurting you,” he says calmly. “In fact, we’ve come here to help. I’d like to offer you a new home, one that isn’t so…depressing. We run a school for people like us. If you come with us, we can teach you how to use your powers properly and you would have some place safe and clean to live in.” Charles smiles, hoping to reassure her.

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Erik waits not to close to the crate and looks back up at Charles than back at the crate. Waiting to see what to do. Of course he could easily break the cage open right than and there. BUT he wasn't sure if she was going to show any signs of aggression if he did, ect. He runs a hand threw his dusty hair trying to fix it a bit, only making it stick up more with a poof of dust coming from it instead.

The girl blinks slowly and watches and listens intently. The fear and pain never fully leave. But at least the anger starts to edge away from her mind. Shifting slowly she nods faintly having at least proven to herself too he wasn't lying to her when he had invaded his mind. Course it wasn't much but it was enough for now. What did she have to loose? Well, a lot like her life actually but..."Alright...", she fades out and before she does she states quietly, "You need to come get me. Your friend scares me more." he was soon alone in the room that was now back to its original state of decay.

Charles breathes a sigh of relief when he feels her anger begin to diminish. A moment later she let the illusions fall away completely and the girl standing directly in front of him faded into nothingness. Charles looks back down the hole, ensuring that the real girl is still locked in the cage. “Watch out Erik, I’m coming down…” Charles gauges the drop and does his best to land gracefully but ends up splashing his pants as he lands in a murky puddle. “It smells dreadful down here,” he comments before slowly approaching the cage. “I’m going to open the door now, is that okay?” he asks, his hand hovering uncertainly in front of the metal bars.

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Erik crinkles his nose as Charles Splashes down next to him. He had moved over a bit to get out of the way and the line of the splash that was sure to happen. "No kidding...it smells like something died down here among other things." He wanted a shower in the worst way possible right now and than some. He arches an eyebrow watching and would open it if he had to of course.

The girl blinks slowly and looks at Charles slowly. Smaller than her fake self, looking more than a little rough around the edges for sure, more dirty, thin, pale, ect. Those fiery eyes where dull now too as she stares up at him like a scared puppy dog. She nods slowly and just watches quietly.

Charles studied the lock. “Did someone lock you up?” he asks quietly, wondering if they should be aware of a potential pursuer. He hadn’t sensed any other nearby mutants during his search with cerebro but it was possible that he had made a mistake or that they had been away at the time. He was angry that the girl had been left in such a state. He could see no food or clean water within reach of the cage and he wondered how she had possibly lived here alone all this time unless she had actually locked herself inside…

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She shakes her head slowly and silently the polar opposite of what she was before as a fake illusion. Least for now...she was worn out and weak. Nobody had been there in a very, very long time thats for sure. She had been locked away and left to fend on her own in this hellish place.

Erik shifts and looks around, "Um, best hurry I have a feeling this place wont hold for long here." No, something was telling him it was going to give up and fall down. Outside the wind had picked up as well as a storm was rolling in.

Charles fumbled with the lock, unable to open it. “Damnit,” he muttered. “Erik, I’m going to need your help here…” He moved over so Erik could access the lock. “Don’t worry, we’re going to get you out of here. Then we can get you a bite to eat and you can rest…” Charles looked up above them. It was indeed getting darker. He sincerely hoped that the cab driver had waited as instructed.

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There was a loud rumble of thunder now in the distance as the wind whips in a blustery gust. Now that the door was gone it knocks some things down on the inside of the miserable little place. Shifting Erik moves and unlocks the lock quickly and steps back from the cage since the girl had sorta moves away from Erik watching wairly. Couldn't blame her Erik wasn't to cuddly thats for sure. "Best make the food take out...need a bath all of us.."

Charles watched as Erik deftly unlocked the metal padlock then stepped back. Though he had gained some of the girl’s trust, it was clear that that trust did not extend to Erik. Once Erik moved back, Charles pushed the door of the cage open and held his hand out for the girl. Calling back to Erik he asked, “Any ideas how we’re going to get out of here?” he hadn’t seen any stairs but perhaps there were some lurking in one of the dark corners nearby. Otherwise Erik was going to have to lift them, he could see no other way, especially considering that the building was creaking and groaning around them.

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Erik looks around and back to him, "I am gonna go look for stairs." He moves off to quickly look for stairs hoping beyond hope that thier where steps there. He looks in every dark corner looking up from time to time as the house groans loudly and rattles as thunder is louder with every rumble and flash of lighting. The sound of pouring rain can now be heard as well. Once he finds a set he darts back quickly. "I found some they aren't great but..."

The girl shifts and takes his offered hand. Getting herself painfully slowly out of the cage. It wasn't her fault but she was just so weak to move any faster. She looks up at him and would allow herself to be picked up at this rate looking so painfully small and frail sitting there.

Charles grips her hand tightly and helps her out of the cage. He tries to pull her to her feet but it’s obvious that she’s struggling. A moment later Erik reappears, announcing that he found a set of stairs. “It’ll have to do,” Charles announces. He gives the girl one last glance before scooping her up in his arms, trying not to think about the filth of her dress. He follows Erik up the rickety stairs, praying that they will hold their combined weight. The steps groan loudly like the rest of the house but hold just long enough for them to make it back up to the first floor. The ceiling starts to crumble down from above and Charles hunches over the girl to shield her from the falling debris as they sprint out of the collapsing building.

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