Chapter 8
"We have a plan mom," Erik spoke into the phone as he explained again to his mother why it was not a horrible idea.
"Well bubbele you can't blame me for being worried. You're known to fly off the handle. And how do we know this Mr.Xavier will have your back if the humans try to say you did something?" The concern was evident in her voice.
He sighed, "He isn't like that ma, he isn't as...well as outspoken as I am, but he wouldn't hang me out to dry if something happened. He's the one who took in the mutant girl Jean remember? If he wasn't an ally he wouldn't have done that." He's not just an ally. He wanted to say, but some secrets were too large to share, even to his mother.
"Well in any case, be careful. You know how I hate seeing you in trouble." Trouble seemed to be all he attracted, but he wouldn't tell her that.
"I'm always careful mom, you know me better than that." It sounded like a lie even to his own ears.
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Erik Lehnsherr knew he was hot headed. He knew he was passionate about mutant rights. He wouldn't apologize for his beliefs. Though he had promised Charles he wouldn't shout.
"Your prejudice towards a child is frankly appalling Mrs.Storm." He did not shout.
Behave, Erik. The voice of Xavier spoke into his mind with annoyance.
This is me behaving Charles. He thought as pointedly as he could.
Mrs.Storm bristled in her seat, "I'm just saying, having a dangerous mutant in class with my Johnny and Susan seems unnecessary."
Before Erik could respond he felt Charles hand squeeze his thigh from under the table.
"Mutant children are in need of education just as much as non-gifted children. And with the use of inhibitor bracelets we can ensure the safety of non-mutant children." I'm saying what they need to hear. Charles knew Erik wouldn't like the promise of the continuation of inhibitor bracelets.
"And what about staff? Where are there inhibitor bracelets?" Mr.Storm snidely responded.
Charles could feel Eriks rage, barely contained in his mind.
Be calm my friend.
"I assure you Mr.Storm, no staff member would bring harm to any child, mutant or not. We have a strict no tolerance policy for violence." Erik spoke through gritted teeth. He had clenched his jaw to the point it was starting to hurt.
"Well I just don't like it, what if that mutant girl takes off her bracelet and starts controlling my Sue's mind? Who's to stop her?" Mrs.Storms grating voice pushed Erik over the edge, at his breaking point he pushed back his chair and stood, but Charles interjected first.
"Mr.Storm, are you aware of the contributions that the X foundation makes to your space program? What percentage of your funding comes from them?" The tension in the room quickly turned to confusion as Mr. and Mrs.Storm looked quizzically at him.
Where are you going with this Charles?
"Approximately fortey percent, just under half. It's interesting isn't it?" Charles sounded cold in a way Erik was unused to.
"Mr.Xavier what are you implying?" Mr.Storm chuckled nervously.
Charles Xavier leaned in over the desk, "I am implying nothing. Other than my foster daughter is the child you two are lobbying to have kicked out of school. And my fortune is what keeps you two afloat. It is interesting, isn't it?" Charles smiled with all teeth, no kindness.
Mrs.Storm gasped, "My word, Mr.Xavier we didn't realize-" she began sputtering out an excuse, but Erik seized the opportunity to speak.
"You didn't realize that the mutant girl might have powerful connections did you?" He wasn't entirely sure the level of connection that the Xavier name implied, but he wouldn't waste the moment. It seemed to be the right thing to say.
"We never meant to imply anything untoward about any of the children! Or the staff for that matter!" Mr.Storm rushed.
Xavier pounced at the insincere admission, "So you would be happy to sign this petition to allow mutant children of any designation in the school?" The couple were signing their names before Charles was finished with his sentence.
Less than two minutes later the Storms were leaving Xavier's office, polite smiles and invitations to tea given.
As Charles closed the door to his office he looked at Erik with a timid smile, "I'm sorry it had to come to that, but they weren't open to any further conversation."
Erik blinked at him dumfounded, "Charles what the hell was that!" How loaded are you?
Charles face went red, "I have a considerable amount of familial wealth, I usually don't bring it up."
Erik shook his head, "No, I know how big the Storm company is, that's not just a considerable amount Charles, thats Lex Luther amounts of money." Charles grimaced at that, "if you have that much pull, why work here!"
Charles looked up at him with those impossibly blue eyes, "I want to help the kids, that's all it's ever been about."
Erik took a moment to consider, "Why hide it? And why bring it up now?"
Charles looked at him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Because this is important. It was the only way to convince them."
Erik threw his hands up in exasperation, "You could have convinced them years ago! Politicians, school boards, corporations! You could be doing so much more for mutants! For telepaths!" He didn't realize how loud he was shouting until he saw all the color drain out of Charles face. He quickly added, "like Jean!"
Charles glared at him, "I don't need you to tell me all that I could be doing with the money. Thank you for your additions to the meeting today Mr.Lehnsherr," Hearing him pointedly not using his first name was surprisingly hurtful, "we can discuss this more after school." He opened his office door, a pointed dismissal.
Erik was furious, just when he thought Charles was different, he was given a harsh reminder of his compliance in mutant subjugation, "you know you could do more, but you choose not to. What an excellent role model for Jean. Complicit until it hurts you."
He slammed the office door on his way out.