Chapter 10
“It’s just stupid enough to work,” Raven added, causing Charles to scoff and Erik to glare.
“I’ll start working on a cover story and finish getting Cerebro up and running.”
“Well, we’ll leave you to it. I believe me and Charles have plans in the city. Please try to stay in the state this time.” Erik said before walking out, Charles by his side.
“Those men,” Raven shook her head, “Don’t forget to get some sleep tonight, Hank.”
She then left, leaving only Alex and Hank in the room once again. Alex had taken a step to follow her but had since stopped in his tracks. Hank could feel him staring, but chose not to say anything. After several minutes Alex finally spoke.
“We should probably talk about what happened.”
“We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“Oh, okay,” but Alex still didn’t move.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I mean, we did almost kiss?”
“You can brush that off with confined space and pent-up sexual tendencies. It doesn’t have to be anything.”
“I got it. Well, I guess see you later, Hank.”
He walked out before he could think anymore about it.
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“What look do you think Raven has on her face right now?” Charles laughed as the two left the mansion.
“The look of I told you so. She confronted me this morning, you know, about your bruises,” Erik said motioning to his neck, “she said she supported it.”
“Well, that’s good at least. Do you remember the first time we told her we were together?”
“I was sure she would make it so I could never walk into that mansion again.”
“Me too if I’m being honest. But, look who she ended up siding with.”
“Hey, that’s not fair.”
“Sorry, force of habit.”
“I can’t blame you.”
They had reached the driveway and like a well-oiled machine, the two started the transfer from the wheelchair to the car. Charles grabbed his collapsible cane from where it was strapped behind his chair, while Erik opened the door. After Erik ensured he wouldn’t fall he packed up the chair and placed it in the truck.
“Now, we told them we were going to the city, but did you have anywhere specific in mind?” Charles asked.
“I got an idea.”
It was a twenty-minute drive from the mansion into town and then an additional ten until Erik finally parked the car.
“Look familiar?” he asked.
“The botanical gardens?”
“It was our first official date. Since we are starting over I thought it appropriate.”
“Won’t they be closed this late?”
“No, I checked early this week. They are doing a special adults-only night. They hung up a bunch of fairy lights and are serving signature cocktails.”
“You know me so well, darling.”
Erik smiled, “You haven't called me that since I left.”
“Well, I think after tonight you’ve earned it back.”
“It’s not done yet.”
The two spent hours wandering through the different gardens. Erik let Charles ramble about the different flowers and how they kept them alive when they were not native to these lands. By the end of it Charles was a little tipsy on cocktails and was just citing poetry about the different flowers he thought were pretty. He had always been a lightweight. But, Erik would not have traded it for the world. He felt like he was finally getting back what he lost. Neither of them had completely healed from the holes that they left. But they were solely filling them back up, this time with different memories. It was almost ten o’clock when they left, but Erik wished this night wouldn’t end. He took the longer more scenic drive back adding another ten worthy minutes to their drive. But after all the booze, Charles was practically asleep when they finally arrived home. Erik placed him back in the wheelchair on his home and pushed him to his room before laying him in bed. He was headed out the door to his room when Charles called after him.
“Stay.”
“What?” Erk questioned, wondering if he had misheard him.
“Will you please stay?” Charles begged.
“Of course, dear.”
Charles smiled in response before scooting over so Erik could climb into bed. He was still in jeans, but he was perfectly comfortable and wasn’t going to dare leave to change.
As the sun peeked over the horizon hours later flooding the room with light, neither moved. They were both perfectly happy to lay in each other’s arms for a while longer. That was until they were rudely interrupted.
“Hye, Charles, I know you're still in bed, but I ju-” Raven rambled as she barged in, “Oh.”
Erik looked up from where he was tracing his finger across Charles’ bare chest and sighed out a curse.
“I guess I will leave you guys to it,” she smirked.
“No, Raven. It was bound time we got out of bed. What do you need?”
“I was just wondering if I could take a few kids up to the mall?”
“Yes, I’m sure that would be fine. Just be safe.”
“Thanks.”
An hour later Raven parked the large white van filled with young adults and teens.
“Now, before y'all run-off everywhere, I want to lay some ground rules. Sooo, the professor doesn’t kill me,” she added after a chorus of groans. “Meet back here in two hours, don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself. And use common sense.”
“Now, go be free teenagers,” Alex smiled from the passenger seat shooing them out the doors.
“Now, finally. What are we gonna do?” Sean asked, rubbing his hands together.
“Well, me and Angel are going into the mall. I don’t care what you idiots do but don’t get too many bright ideas the van is staying here.”
“What?!”
“I have no trust in your concept of time or driving skills. So I will be keeping it here.”
“You're no fun Raven you know that.”
She only rolled her eyes in response.
An hour and a half had passed and both Raven and Angel had an armful of shopping bags and were headed back towards the food court to wait for the students to be done. Suddenly a loud commotion was heard from a few feet away. The two turned around just in time to be able to jump out of the way of a young teenager being chased by a security guard. However, the couple in front of her didn’t hear the pounding of footsteps and the girl slammed straight into them knocking all three to the ground.
“Not as smart as you think you are, are you?” the guard sneered, hauling the girl to her feet.
“I’m sorry ‘bout that, folks. This girl thought it would be a good idea to run off with a handful of merchandise.”
Before the couple could respond, Angel cut in, “Jamie? What the fuck? I leave you alone for twenty minutes and you result to stealing?”
The rest of the current company looks at her weirdly.
“You know this girl?” the guard, whose name tag read Nate, asked.
“Yes, she’s my cousin who is staying with us, out of the kindness of our hearts, while her parents are overseas for the summer.”
The young brunette, who finally figured out what was going on, spoke up, “I’m sorry, Mandy. Please don't tell Aunty.”
“We’ll see. If I pay for the stuff, do we have to cause a commotion?” Angel asked, then lowered her voice, “She’s upset her parents left her behind so she’s been acting out to get their attention. Please.”
After a few more batted eyelashes the guard sighed, “How about I just take it back to the store and we can forget about this whole thing? But, only this time.”
“Thank you so much,” she smiled.
After the guard walked away, the girl spoke up, “Thanks for that. Did NOT know how I was going to get out of that one.”
“No problem. I got one request though.”
Her smile dropped, “What?”
“Wanna tell me the story of why you were stealing a pair of headphones and a winter coat?”
The girl tugged at her yellow leather jacket, “Needed the money, and um, it gets cold at night in New York.”
“You a runaway?”
“The streets are better than foster care and I don’t have many other options.”
“You know I was in a situation like that once, and I thought the same thing. But, there are places that can help you. Me and her,” she nodded back at Raven, “We work with this guy who opened up his entire home for people like you and me.”
She scoffed, “What’s the catch?”
“None. We just want to see you guys safe.”
“That’s what they all say. Now, if you don’t mind, I have things to do.”
“Wait. Please, just take this and if you ever get tired of sleeping on the streets come find us. I’m gonna write my number on the back, the name’s Angel.”
The girl shook her head but took the card anyway. She didn’t stay much longer.
“How did you know?” Raven asked after she was out of earshot.
“What?”
“How’d you guess she needed help like that?”
“She had a pansexual pride pin on her jacket. And what teenager steals a winter coat?”
“Good point.”
“She reminded me of myself back in the day. Before you and guys found me. I ran away at fifteen, was hard to find a job being so young with no permanent address, so I turned turning tricks. No one deserves that.”
“I’m sorry, Angel.”
“Eh, nothing you can do about it now.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t be sorry it happened.”
She smiled lightly, “We better be getting back to the van soon. The kids will be there soon.”