Fortunate Son

Erik was reading hamlet for the hundredth time it seemed like. It had been a long ten years stuck in isolation for a crime he didn’t commit. He missed his family, his children would be teenagers now. They had been barely out of diapers when he had gone in. He should have left it alone when he found out someone was plotting to kill the president. Erik didn’t regret much but he regretted ever stepping foot in Texas. Nothing was worth more to him than his family.

He figured eventually Mystique would come for him when she had the means. Until then he was stuck in this prison of glass and plastic. So there he lay waiting for his daily delivery of whatever slop the cafeteria saw fit to serve him. He barely looked up when the tray of food slid into his cell from the slot. He reached down to grab it frowning when he saw a note attached.

“Hey Vati! Mind the glass” the note read and his heart dropped and his head looked up to the glass ceiling. There dressed in a too large guards uniform was his son, his Pietro. He would be able to recognize that familiar shit eating grin anywhere. He decided there and then that he was going to hug him then he was going to kill him. The boy even had the audacity to wave like he was just here for a visit.

Pietro placed his hands on the glass and began to make the panes of glass vibrate. Erik ducked his head to shield himself from the falling glass. He climbed out of his cell with a grunt and without saying a word pulled his child into his arms. He squeezed Pietro as tightly as he could manage, holding back the tears that were sure to follow this reunion.

“I missed you too but I can’t breathe” Pietro gasped for air and Erik pulled away only to smack Pietro upside the head knocking the guards hat off his head. Even as a five year old Pietro had always been rambunctious and rebellious; always sneaking some sort of sweet before dinner or even stealing a toy from the store if his parents weren’t watching him closely. It seemed like he never thought about the consequences of his actions living for the instant gratification his mutation brought him. Erik would be gray before he was forty with him as his son.

“You stupid, stupid boy, what the hell were you thinking! They’re going to burst through those doors any second with guns!” Erik snapped at the boy who had the decency to look suitably reprimanded. Erik couldn’t understand why his child would do something so dangerously stupid. A voice at the back of his mind that sounded suspiciously like Magda whispered “he gets that from you.” She had always blamed any of the children’s negative qualities on him and she was probably right. Erik hadn’t always thought through the consequences of his actions. That was part of why he had been stuck here beneath the pentagon.

“That’s what I’m waiting for, I have help outside” Pietro took hold of the back of Erik’s neck ready to rush him into the elevator.

“What are you doing?” Erik asked his son.

“I’m holding your neck so you don’t get whiplash” he answered with a big smile.

“Wha?” He started to ask again but he was cut off by Pietro.

“Whiplaaaasssshhhhh” he drew out the word and Erik suddenly felt even more sorry for his poor ex-wife having to put up with this mouthy child all by herself. The elevator doors opened and more guards piled into the room, guns drawn and Erik felt a thread of fear run down his spine, not for himself though. He was fearful for the fifteen year old child stupid enough to break into the fucking pentagon of all places. If Erik didn’t kill him he was sure Magda herself would. He felt a rush of air and a sickness deep in the pit of his stomach and suddenly they were in the elevator. He looked around trying not to vomit his eyes focusing briefly on the guard taped haphazardly to the wall of the elevator.

“It’ll pass that happens with everyone,” Pietro tried reassuring his father and Erik looked up at him wearily. If the government didn’t kill him, having Pietro as his son certainly would. His mind began racing as they made their way up in the elevator.

“How is your mother and Wanda?” He asked desperate for information on the rest of his family. He knew Magda would never consciously let Pietro do something this foolhardy. He was also going to kick whoever drug his fifteen year old into this ass.

“Oh they’re great Wanda is still all smart and stuff and she had good control over her powers now. Mama is good too I think I wear her out. There is something else you need to know, you have another daughter Lorna. Mama found out she was pregnant after they took you. I didn’t even know you guys were back together,” Peter rambled and Erik struggled to take in the information he was being fed. Another daughter, he had another daughter. He didn’t even know how he would explain to Pietro that no his mother and father were absolutely not back together.

His mind went back to 1963, he was still reeling from his breakup with Charles and Magda had always been a comfort in a storm. Their romantic relationship may have ended but they would always be best friends. There had been too many glasses of wine after they had put the children to bed and he had awoken in her bed the next morning. They had both agreed to pretend it had never happened. They were better off as friends they had learned that long ago, it seemed the one off tryst had resulted in another child. Erik loved children though and would welcome any that Magda gave him. He would protect this child with his life just like Pietro and Wanda.

His thoughts were cut off when the doors to the elevator opened and he felt a fist connect with his jaw. His head snapped to the side and he was shocked to find Charles Xavier of all people behind the fist. He was shocked, why was Charles here to break him out. After the events on the beach the young professor had written him off completely. He also hadn’t expected him to be walking an injury like that should have left the man paralyzed from the waist down. He also looked like he had been abusing drugs or alcohol which worried Erik. Charles wasn’t the type to do that at least not the Charles he knew ten years ago.

“Good to see you too old friend” he quipped sarcastically and couldn’t help but spare a glance at Pietro, he was looking between them with wide brown eyes.

“Listen here, I may be breaking you out but we’re doing this my way!” Charles growled hair wet from the sprinklers that had gone off in the chaos. Erik scowled Charles was talking big talk for someone who recruited a fifteen year old to break him out of prison.

“Like I could stop you if I wanted to,” Erik spat tapping his head and gearing up to tear into Charles for involving his child in this.

“I’m never getting inside that head again!” Charles cracked back.

“No but you’ll drag my fifteen year old into a dangerous situation,” Erik snarled, stepping closer to Charles whose eyes were now as wide as saucers. Peter was just looking between the two men with apparent anxiety. He had known his father would be upset that he decided to break into a secure facility but he didn’t think he would be this angry. He also hadn’t expected Charles to punch his Vati in the face. How was he supposed to know that the dude who recruited him to break his father out was also violently angry with him.

Before Charles could respond with more than gaping and stuttering the doors burst open. Guards spilled into the room ready to shoot on site. Fear tangled within Erik’s gut his child was here.

“Freeze them Charles!” He snapped angrily.

“I can’t!” Charles stuttered and Erik looked at him sharply. The metal in the room began to rise along with Erik’s anxiety. Charles went to put a hand on his chest as if it would hold him back. Erik turned to make sure Pietro was still safely behind him. Then everything stopped and suddenly the bullets that had been hurling towards the four men missed their mark and Pietro was on the other side of the room headphones in place and a security hat on his head. Erik was flabbergasted; he had known that Pietro was fast but to be able to move bullets that had already been fired in the stance of a blink had baffled him.

The boy plastered his ever present shit eating grin on his face and gave a little wave. Erik, unable to help himself, ran to the teenager and pulled him in for another quick hug. Pietro was definitely going to be the death of him. He was sure of it.

***
The car ride was painfully awkward Peter had the lovely honor of riding the hump, crammed between Hank and his Vati. Erik was still fuming but nobody was speaking. Peter was slapping his knee in time to the music in his ears that was drowning out the awkward silence of the rental car.

Peter felt his fathers hand come to rest on his knee with steadying pressure. Peter hadn’t even realized he had been shaking that leg so hard it was vibrating. He gave his Vati a sheepish smile.

“You still don’t do well with car rides?” Erik asked the boy. There was no judgment in his tone; it was simply a question.

“It’s hard to sit still,” Peter replied and he could feel Hank’s eyes on the pair. Everyone had been shocked to learn Peter was Erik’s son. It seemed like it was hard for them to believe he had a family at all.

“You were like that since you were a baby, you would squirm and cry until someone would stop and rock you” Erik remembered fondly. It made the fifteen year old blush in embarrassment. Everyone but Charles who was driving turned to look at Erik like he had grown three heads.

“Yeah I know I’m a problem child,” Peter blushed trying to look anywhere but his Vati’s piercing blue eyes.

“No, you’re a good kid,” Erik declared venom in his voice. It seemed like the only person not phased by the father son duo was the Logan guy with the mutton chops.

“Geez Vati” Peter groaned, rubbing the back of his neck at the attention being on him. He normally would have run away but there was nowhere to go in the cramped vehicle.

“Pietro, why aren’t you in school?” Erik asked his boy. Erik was still concerned how they had found out about Pietro, Charles would have had to have been actively looking for him to find him. Pietro should be in school not running into danger with men old enough to be his father.

“Oh I don’t go to school anymore” Peter replied, playing with his Walkman. Erik turned to look at him sharply, an unhappy scowl coming to mar his aristocratic bone structure. Peter had gotten so used to letting people think he was a loser dropout that he hadn’t even thought about what his Vati’s reaction would be. He would rather be known as a rebellious teenager than a boy genius. He wasn’t even a genius, his mind just moved really fast, he was still adamant that Wanda was the smart twin. His whole attitude drove his mother crazy, she thought he should be applying to Ivy League colleges or MIT.

“I know for a fact Magda wouldn’t let one of her children drop out!” Erik snapped in a tone that demanded answers. Peter had forgotten just how intimidating his Vati could be when tested. He had always been the fun parent with the twins. That wasn’t hard though when you didn’t live with your kids full time he reminded himself his Mama didn’t have the luxury of being the fun parent. Especially after their Vati had been framed for assassinating the president.

“Uh no...Ikindagraduatedearly,” he sped the last part out embarrassed to look like a big old nerd.

“I missed that last part, were you expelled!” Erik demanded wanting to know the answers. He was ready to kick the schools ass if they had discriminated against Pietro for his mutant abilities.

“Fine….. I graduated early” he whispered the last part trying to hide from the curious gazes staring at him. Now everyone would think he was a giant nerd. Erik’s expression went from stern concern to elation in the span of a second.

“That’s amazing Peter what colleges are you looking at?” Hank asked thinking he had finally found some common ground with the silver haired speedster. Peter groaned burying his face in his hands which made Logan start to chuckle. Logan had known Peter Maximoff in the future and had learned of his early graduation just because he hated school.

“That really is quite brilliant Peter,” Charles chimed in from the driver's seat, sounding less like an alcoholic and more like the professor he was supposedly supposed to be.

“I’m so proud of you, I apologize for doubting you even for a second” Erik had that fatherly pride in his voice that someone just couldn’t fake. The whole thing made Peter sick, Wanda was supposed to be the good child. If people were proud of you it was easy to disappoint them, if they thought you were a fuck up you were always exceeding their low expectations of you.

“Can we go back to pretending I’m a dropout? I only decided to graduate early because it sucked big ones. I’m not gonna go and sign up for more school on purpose. I’m not even the smart twin that’s Wanda. My mind just moves fast, that doesn’t mean I’m smarter,” Peter had begun to whine and Erik’s frown was back with full force at Pietro’s disparaging comments about himself.

“Pietro! You are smart. I don’t want to hear anything else about this nonsense! There is no smart twin; all three of my children are intelligent!” Erik’s voice had become raised with indignation. Erik was also making mental notes to make Pietro apply for college once they had saved the mutant race from genocide.

“Wait all three of your children!?” Charles yelped from the front seat and Peter was glad that the attention had turned away from him.

“Yes.” Erik said shortly and Peter would almost swear there was a longing in his eyes. They were all saved from the awkwardness when the car finally pulled into the small municipal airport where Charles who was apparently stupid rich had his private plane.

Peter, unable to help himself, dashed on board the plane and started scavenging until he found the flight plan. They were going to Paris, he had never been to Paris this would be exciting. He ran back and the rest of the people hadn’t even noticed he had left.

“Is Aunt Raven in Paris?” He asked and Charles spun to look at him bewildered.

“I’m sorry… Aunt Raven?” Charles asked the silver haired boy.

“Yeah you said she was your sister does that mean I can call you uncle Charlie or do you prefer Chuck?” Peter asked, causing the long haired man to stutter.

“I think not” Charles spluttered awkwardly causing Logan to chuckle at his discomfort. Logan had missed Peter’s antics, it had been a terrible day for all of them when the twins had died.

“Okay cool Charles it is, do you have a thing for my Vati?” He asked as the next thought spun into place. He may only be fifteen but he had eyes and they were definitely not just friends.

“Kid would you be able to return the rental?” Charles sighed ignoring the pointed questions and making his way to the plane and throwing the keys toward Peter whose eyes lit up. It was short lived because his Vati snatched the keys from the air.

“No Charles, he can’t! We need to call his mother and have her come pick him up,” Erik ordered looking at Charles like he was nuts.

“I have my learners” Peter mumbled dejectedly.

“Sorry old friend I don’t have a phone hook up at this airfield” Charles replied, having the decency to look ashamed. Peter was even more in awe that this man owned his own airfield; what was next a mansion.

“Looks like you're coming to Paris with us, but you will be staying in the hotel the entire time” Erik ordered and Peter's eyes lit up again. He didn’t wait for anyone to change their mind about letting a hyperactive speedster into a pressurized tube fifty thousand feet in the air.