Chapter 4
Waiting for everything to end was the worst part. Mr.X had been so kind, waking up every morning and making breakfast and packing her lunches. Buying her a real backpack, and shoes that fit. Mrs.Raven was coming over after school today for a "girls day" and she was going to buy new clothes.
It had to fall apart eventually.
She was trying to be good. She wasn't too loud, and she only ate when Mr.X did. She did her homework as soon as she got home, and only spoke when he asked her questions. But why was he so worried about her all the time? She could sense the anxiety coming off of him in waves. It had been three full days and she was losing her mind.
Sitting at the breakfast table, she focused as hard as she could, reaching out with her mind. She felt like a rubber band stretching too thin. Mr.X was leaned over the stove, cooking scrambled eggs. He dropped his spatula to the ground.
She immediately withdrew. Terror filled her as he turned to look at her.
I ruined it, I ruined it all.
He gave her a kind smile "Oh dear, Ms.Jean. If you would like to test your telepathy you are always welcome to practice with me." He reached for the spatula, having difficulty getting to the floor, "you just caught me by surprise is all. I don't have much experience with other telepaths."
She jumped out of her seat and picked up the spatula, handing it to him. Her hands shook as he moved the eggs off of the burner.
Her dad was cooking, she was supposed to be helping him, cutting carrots. He had been having a good day, she was so happy. Until she sliced the palm of her right hand. She screamed, blood spilling onto the carrots, the countertop. Her powers reacted instinctively, the knife flinging away from her. He screamed angrily, throwing the hot contents of the soup pot onto the ground. 'its ruined now' he shouted at her. 'you fucking ruined everything'
Mr.X took in a sharp breath, you are safe here, he projected into her head.
As she traced the scar on her right hand, she believed him.
The scrambled eggs were burnt. But Jean couldn't have cared less. As Mr.X sat across from her at the table, talking about different techniques for telepathy, she hoped it would never end.
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Erik had been patient. Xavier was dodging him at every turn. Jean was doing well in class, being friendly with Kitty and the boy Hank. Her bruises were healing, and she showed no sign of further injury. But he wanted to be sure, his students safety was always his top priority.
At the end of the day, the receptionist came to his room,
"I have a Ms.Raven Darkholme here to pick up Jean? Is that alright?"
The students were already beginning to pack their bags, Erik sighed, "I have 3 minutes of class time left. She can wait." There was grumbling from the unhappy children as he wrote their homework assignment down.
The bell rang, and all control he had over the classroom vanished.
"Jean", as he called her name the girls head popped up, "a word." She looked anxious as she held her bookbag close.
"Yes sir." The terrified look on her face made Erik's heart hurt for her.
"You aren't in trouble, I just want to make sure you're okay? Are things okay at home?" He tried his best to make himself look nonthreatening, but based off the 'deer in the headlights' look Jean was giving him, it wasn't working.
She twisted the strap of her bookbag nervously, "Mr.X is being really nice, and he's taking good care of me. But I need to go, Ms.Raven is here to pick me up." She scurried out the door without another word.
What the hell?
He was going to see Xavier after school, today was their board meeting, and Charles never missed one. He would have to strike then. Charles Xavier owed him some explanations.
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The board meeting was dragging on. Erik was stealing glances at Charles the entire time. Trying to get his attention.
HELLO! He tried to focus on the word, and he watched Charles flinch.
Got him.
"Are you alright Charles?" Principal Shaw asked, noticing the grimace. Charles smiled weakly, rubbing his temple.
"Just a headache, please continue." If looks could kill, the one he gave Erik would have been fatal.
"Well do feel better, we have one last important matter to discuss," Shaw folded his hands on the table, "mutant students will a class three or higher will no longer be tolerated at this school."
Erik, Charles, and Ororo all shouted at the same time.
"Quiet!" Shaw shouted over them standing, "we have had multiple complaints from parents, and we cannot afford any more pressure from higher ups." Turning then to Erik he added, "do understand" insincerity lacing every word.
"This is a blatant violation of the Mutant Rights Act passed last year. We had this discussion already when Jean was starting-" Charles was red faced, voice raised as he spoke to the Principal.
"And what of teachers with a class three mutation or above? I myself am a class five, Mr.Lehnsherr cannot be far behind me." Ororo spoke in a calm voice, but the air was charged with electricity.
"The Mutant Rights debacle only extends to adult mutants. The children have no rights." Shaw was still standing, staring down at Charles in his wheelchair.
"These children have a right to an education. What parents have complained? Give me their names" Erik stood up, not appreciating how Shaw was looking down on Charles.
Shaw tutted, "these things are confidential Mr.Lehnsherr, we wouldn't want anyone seeking retaliation you see." Erik scoffed.
"So you don't have any real complaints, you just don't want mutant students. Almost every one of them is at least a level three, this is ridiculous." Erik wasn't believing his ears, "this is undisguised mutantphobia, right here at the heart of the school!"
"What if we have a meeting with the parents? The ones who have complained? I can help ease their fears, and you would be there as well to ensure there's no untoward behavior." Charles spoke up, no longer yelling.
"And what? Negotiate with them? Convince them not to be bigots? This is insane!" He was always taking the humans side, and now knowing his secret it made Erik angrier.
Shaw took a moment to consider, "Mr.Xavier, I would be happy to set up meetings between you and the concerned parents" Charles sighed in relief, "and Mr.Lehnsherr, there's no one better than you to advocate for the mutant children at the meeting." Erik watched as Charles eyes widened.
"That's sabotage! Lehnsherr will end up popping off at some poor soccer mom, we'll never get through to them!" Erik wanted to be offended, but he couldn't find it within himself to disagree.
"No, no I insist. Charles I will get you the parents information on Monday and you can begin to arrange meetings. You have until the end of this semester to convince them, or we will begin the transferring of students before winter break." At that, Shaw clapped his hands together, and the meeting was over.
Charles and Erik sat in silence, as the meeting participants filed out of the board room.
Charles took a deep breath, "I will begin to arrange the meetings, and we can discuss our approach -" he was cut off.
"What is happening with Jean Grey?" Erik wasn't expecting the question to come out, until he had already said it. Xavier seemed equally surprised.
He sat up a little straighter, "Jean is staying with me for the time being, and she is pressing charges against her father." She's safe, she's learning her powers with me, thank you for asking.
Erik wasn't prepared for the mental invasion, WARN ME BEFORE YOU DO THAT, he focused hard.
Charles grimaced, you don't need to shout, I can hear you fine.
"We need to prepare for the meetings, I need you to be in your best behavior, we don't want to scare these parents." Charles said aloud. Shaw is still listening.
Erik didn't know what to do with the new information, "I will stand up for my mutant brethren." Mutant and proud, always.
Charles glared at him, "I will always defend mutant kind, but we need to educate these people not scare them." Some of us don't have the luxury of being proud.
Erik felt a rise in anger, how dare he, "we can meet after school at my apartment, we need to make a plan of action."
Charles hesitated, "we need to meet at my house, I can't leave Jean alone and I don't have reliable child care."
Erik wasn't expecting that response, "okay, after we get the list of parent names, I can meet you at your house on Monday." Erik began to walk out of the board room.
Thank you. Charles voice spoke in his head as he exited. Erik almost found himself looking forward to working with Charles, instead of arguing against him. Almost.