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katleeptTitle: Perhaps
Author: Kat Lee
Fandom: X-Men
Character/Pairing: Charles/Erik
Rating: PG-13/T
Challenge/Prompt:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
1_million_words Weekend Challenge: The Music Round
Warning(s): Character Death
Word Count: 795
Date Written: 2 January, 2016
Summary:
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to Marvel Comics and Disney, not the author, and are used without permission.
He lays on his bed, old, tired, and glazed eyes staring through the single window in his room to the gray skies outside. The whole day is gray, just as his life has always been. The world has never been black and white for Erik. He's always been able to see the evil in every one, the bad all around him, and so little good. Evil things must often be done to reach good measures, and he's done them all without ever once doubting himself.
He's never doubted himself, never doubted his reasons, never doubted that the lives he took were necessary for his people to survive. Even now, he can sense them. They're out there, stretched across a world that fears and hates them. They're out there, needing him to help save them before they're killed by hatred. So many have fallen.
Death has always been a constant companion in Erik Lehnsherr's life. It started with his parents back in the Jewish camps. Then his wife and child were killed. He's lost friends, allies, so many good soldiers both in World War 2 and in this war that never seems to end and yet is so rarely discussed openly. For so many years, the humans even hated to admit that they exist, but they do, and they've suffered at humanity's hands for far too long.
But that suffering is not going to end in his lifetime, Erik has finally come to realize. It's not going to end with more hate. It's not going to end any time soon. The one man who could have brought about a peaceful coexistence for them is far gone, and he took a part of Erik with him when he died, when he was killed by one of his most cherished pupils. Erik's never forgotten that day; he's played the moment over and over in his head. Even now, as his wrinkled hands clench his bed sheets, he lives it again.
"Charles," he cries, his voice echoing in his bedroom. Everything could have been so much better if they could have just stood together. That is far from being his only mistake in life, but it is surely his greatest. He never should have left him. He should have fought with him, but Charles wouldn't have him once he started doing what he had to be done if their people were to live.
They could have fathered their whole race. They could have rose up together against the humans, and together, they could have won. But for all the evil Erik's always witnessed all around him, he never saw it in his beloved Charles. He never saw it until Charles attacked his mind, and that attack led to Onslaught. Yet Onslaught itself was more Erik's doing than Charles. It was Erik whose evilness had finally corrupted his dearest and most beloved friend.
It was Erik who let him down when he most needed him, Erik who let their world down by not stopping Scott from killing Charles, Erik who let them all down because he couldn't save the man he still loves. And it is Erik now who hears his own name being whispered in his room. "Charles," he cries again. He can not save their people. He's done all he can with this lifetime.
Perhaps in another lifetime, in another world, they can stand together. They can stand together and unite their people and stop the evilness that spreads through this land, killing men, women, and children, slaughtering mutants and humans alike. Perhaps, in another lifetime, it can all be different. Perhaps even they can be different. Perhaps they can stand together and save as many lives as he's seen taken this time.
Perhaps . . . But there have always been perhapses in this world. There's always been the chance that something could have been better, or at least different, if a different choice was made. He used to think that he never doubted himself, but that was before Charles was taken. Now he doubts every move he makes. He doubts who he can trust, who is worthy of being saved, why he even tries, why he has tried.
But those times are over, Erik decides, hearing his name called again. Those times, those lives, are behind them now for, with a smile gracing his face, he answers, "Charles," and his fingers interlock with those of his love. They rise together, and he has one last thought of a perhaps as they leave this world. Perhaps now, they can finally stay together, no doubts, no positions, no causes to interfere. Perhaps now they can love each other as always before they should have, and with Charles' hand in his, Erik releases the world with one last smile.
The End
Author: Kat Lee
Fandom: X-Men
Character/Pairing: Charles/Erik
Rating: PG-13/T
Challenge/Prompt:
1_million_words Weekend Challenge: The Music RoundWarning(s): Character Death
Word Count: 795
Date Written: 2 January, 2016
Summary:
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to Marvel Comics and Disney, not the author, and are used without permission.
He lays on his bed, old, tired, and glazed eyes staring through the single window in his room to the gray skies outside. The whole day is gray, just as his life has always been. The world has never been black and white for Erik. He's always been able to see the evil in every one, the bad all around him, and so little good. Evil things must often be done to reach good measures, and he's done them all without ever once doubting himself.
He's never doubted himself, never doubted his reasons, never doubted that the lives he took were necessary for his people to survive. Even now, he can sense them. They're out there, stretched across a world that fears and hates them. They're out there, needing him to help save them before they're killed by hatred. So many have fallen.
Death has always been a constant companion in Erik Lehnsherr's life. It started with his parents back in the Jewish camps. Then his wife and child were killed. He's lost friends, allies, so many good soldiers both in World War 2 and in this war that never seems to end and yet is so rarely discussed openly. For so many years, the humans even hated to admit that they exist, but they do, and they've suffered at humanity's hands for far too long.
But that suffering is not going to end in his lifetime, Erik has finally come to realize. It's not going to end with more hate. It's not going to end any time soon. The one man who could have brought about a peaceful coexistence for them is far gone, and he took a part of Erik with him when he died, when he was killed by one of his most cherished pupils. Erik's never forgotten that day; he's played the moment over and over in his head. Even now, as his wrinkled hands clench his bed sheets, he lives it again.
"Charles," he cries, his voice echoing in his bedroom. Everything could have been so much better if they could have just stood together. That is far from being his only mistake in life, but it is surely his greatest. He never should have left him. He should have fought with him, but Charles wouldn't have him once he started doing what he had to be done if their people were to live.
They could have fathered their whole race. They could have rose up together against the humans, and together, they could have won. But for all the evil Erik's always witnessed all around him, he never saw it in his beloved Charles. He never saw it until Charles attacked his mind, and that attack led to Onslaught. Yet Onslaught itself was more Erik's doing than Charles. It was Erik whose evilness had finally corrupted his dearest and most beloved friend.
It was Erik who let him down when he most needed him, Erik who let their world down by not stopping Scott from killing Charles, Erik who let them all down because he couldn't save the man he still loves. And it is Erik now who hears his own name being whispered in his room. "Charles," he cries again. He can not save their people. He's done all he can with this lifetime.
Perhaps in another lifetime, in another world, they can stand together. They can stand together and unite their people and stop the evilness that spreads through this land, killing men, women, and children, slaughtering mutants and humans alike. Perhaps, in another lifetime, it can all be different. Perhaps even they can be different. Perhaps they can stand together and save as many lives as he's seen taken this time.
Perhaps . . . But there have always been perhapses in this world. There's always been the chance that something could have been better, or at least different, if a different choice was made. He used to think that he never doubted himself, but that was before Charles was taken. Now he doubts every move he makes. He doubts who he can trust, who is worthy of being saved, why he even tries, why he has tried.
But those times are over, Erik decides, hearing his name called again. Those times, those lives, are behind them now for, with a smile gracing his face, he answers, "Charles," and his fingers interlock with those of his love. They rise together, and he has one last thought of a perhaps as they leave this world. Perhaps now, they can finally stay together, no doubts, no positions, no causes to interfere. Perhaps now they can love each other as always before they should have, and with Charles' hand in his, Erik releases the world with one last smile.
The End
